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St. Louis Blues Open Second Round Series Against Dallas Stars, Look to Continue Dominance

By Patrick Karraker

Mar 12, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; St. Louis Blues right wing Troy Brouwer (36) screens Dallas Stars goalie Antti Niemi (31) during the second period at the American Airlines Center. Brouwer scores a goal in the first. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; St. Louis Blues right wing Troy Brouwer (36) screens Dallas Stars goalie Antti Niemi (31) during the second period at the American Airlines Center. Brouwer scores a goal in the first. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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St. Louis Blues Dallas Stars
Mar 12, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; St. Louis Blues right wing Troy Brouwer (36) screens Dallas Stars goalie Antti Niemi (31) during the second period at the American Airlines Center. Brouwer scores a goal in the first. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

After putting up a spectacular fight to knock off the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round, the St. Louis Blues return to action on Friday and will begin the task of eliminating a Dallas Stars team that they beat four times this season.

While some St. Louis Blues fans would be content to have a parade down Market Street just because the team was able to knock off the dominant Chicago Blackhawks in seven games and advance to the second round of the postseason for the first time since 2012, the reality is that the Blues must still win three more series in order to bring St. Louis its first Stanley Cup in 48 seasons of the franchise’s existence. The next of those series gets underway on Friday night, as the Blues face their division rivals, the Dallas Stars.

While Dallas had the best record in the Western Conference and topped the Blues for the Central Division title, most observers are picking the Blues to knock Dallas off in the second round. The Stars have definitely put up a good fight against the Blues this season–three of the teams’ five games have been resolved after the end of regulation, and the scoring differential is 13-10 in favor of the Blues–but ultimately, the Blues have the edge, having won four of five games this year.

The Blues’ only loss came on December 27 at American Airlines Center. While an excuse can never really be made for a loss, circumstances weren’t in the Blues’ favor that day. They’d beaten the Stars 3-2 the previous night in a shootout that ended at 9:59 PM. They had to travel overnight and were tasked with facing Dallas again at 5:00 PM the next day. Guys like Scott Gomez, Dmitrij Jaskin, Magnus Paajarvi, Ryan Reaves, and Robert Bortuzzo who have since been bumped from the lineup for more talented performers (or off the roster entirely in Gomez’s case) were utilized that afternoon, while Jaden Schwartz, Patrik Berglund, and Kyle Brodziak were injured and out of the lineup.

Check out the next few pages for information about what Friday’s lineups are expected to look like:

Next: Blues Lineup

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