The greatest annual postseason in all of sports gets underway late this afternoon, and I am absolutely beside myself with giddy anticipation over the multiple two-and-a-half-hour heart attacks I will endure over the coming weeks. The Dallas Stars, who have been to the Western Conference Finals the past three straight seasons, are dropping the puck against the Minnesota Wild in what will definitely be the most thrilling matchup of the first round and, potentially, of the entire tournament.

Just push “PLAY” on the video below. Go full screen and turn the volume way up. Feel your pulse quicken. Notice the catch in your breath. The gulp in your throat. The butterflies doing somersaults in your stomach. The urge to throat-punch anyone not wearing Victory Green.

The Stars finally addressed their one glaring need, the one thing that has kept them out of the Stanley Cup Finals the past years: toughness. They’ve been ramping it up all season. They are physically forechecking now, from goal line to goal line, throughout the lineup. They have two 40-goal scorers in Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson, a superstar sniper-scorer in Mikko Rantanen, and one of the NHL’s top power plays. Miro Heiskanen is probably the best two-way defenseman in the NHL, and I’ll take Otter in net right now over anybody else in the league. One of the Star’s major strengths, their incredible depth, is being tested right now with Roope Hintz out for at least the first two games. But they entered last year’s first round without Miro and Robo and still came out on top.

However, almost all that one says about the Stars can also be said about Minnesota. Two 40-goal scorers, a violent forecheck, and depth. These two teams are about as equally matched as you can get. And I can’t wait.

It’s going to be tight. The energy is going to be over-the-top, the desperation will be palpable, the bodies will be flying, the hits will be bone-rattling, the momentum will be constantly shifting, and the margin of victory will be measured in inches and seconds. Bring it on.

Does anyone know a good cardiologist?

Let’s Go Stars!
Allan