The first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs is finally complete. It weeded out the weaker teams from the stronger teams, at least in the Eastern Conference. We saw two Game 7 in the first round, with Boston defeating Toronto again and the Dallas Stars knocking out the defending Stanley Cup Champion Vegas Golden Knights.
The second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is already underway. Each series in the East will be one game into their respective series before the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche drop the puck on Game 1.
There is much to discuss, so let’s dive into the second-round preview for the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs Second Round Preview
 Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche
The final second-round matchup is set in the Western Conference, but it is the first to kick off as the Dallas Stars will battle the Colorado Avalanche. We are not saying everyone was expecting this matchup; but most people had Colorado and Dallas meeting in the playoffs this season. The Avalanche needed five games to beat the Winnipeg Jets. Dallas needed to go to Game 7 to knock off the defending Stanley Cup Champion Vegas Golden Knights.
This is the first time since the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs when the Stars knocked the Avalanche out of the Bubble in Game 7. Dallas does have Colorado’s number in the playoffs, though, but a 3-2 margin in the five playoff meetings. The Avalanche did win the regular season series 3-1, but Colorado should know that does not mean anything. Just ask their previous-round opponent.
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These were the best teams in the Central. It’s only fitting they meet now. Dallas was able to take away the middle of the ice and prevent Vegas’s top players from getting good looks at Jake Oettinger. It will be hard for Dallas to do that with Colorado. There is too much speed with Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Casey Mittelstadt to accompany Cale Makar. Makar is like Bobby Orr out there. Add in Artturi Lehkonen and Valeri Nichushkin, and the Avalanche are a dangerous hockey club.
The Stars have their own firepower with Wyatt Johnston, Roope Hintz, Jason Robertson, Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Logan Stankoven and Miro Heiskanen. So they can match Colorado’s goal-scoring ability. The key for Colorado is whether Alexandar Georgiev can match Oettinger. He did not do it in the regular season, but thus, in the playoffs, both guys are performing well. Georgiev outperformed Connor Hellebuyck in Round 1. But Oettinger appears to be on a different level.
Special teams will be a factor. Colorado has one of the best power plays remaining in the playoffs. It can score at will and change a game. Just ask Winnipeg. Dallas’s penalty kill will have to be as sharp as it was against Vegas. That is because Oettinger was their best player. Colorado’s penalty kill is good as well. Dallas must be aware of Colorado’s ability to strike shorthanded.
This series has the same feel as it did in 2020. The winner could advance to the Stanley Cup Final.