Fansided

NHL schedule release 2018: 5 Stars games we’re looking forward to

By C.L. Kohuss

SAN JOSE, CA - APRIL 03: Jamie Benn #14 of the Dallas Stars looks on during the game against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on April 3, 2018 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Rocky W. Widner/NHL/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jamie Benn
SAN JOSE, CA - APRIL 03: Jamie Benn #14 of the Dallas Stars looks on during the game against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on April 3, 2018 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Rocky W. Widner/NHL/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jamie Benn /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 17: Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings reacts to a goal from Brayden McNabb #3 of the Vegas Golden Knights for a 1-0 lead during the second period in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Staples Center on April 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 17: Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings reacts to a goal from Brayden McNabb #3 of the Vegas Golden Knights for a 1-0 lead during the second period in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Staples Center on April 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

2. Dallas @ Los Angeles Kings

Date: Thursday, February 28

Time: 10:30 p.m., E.T.

This one is personal. Not in the “let’s get revenge” sense (okay, a tad), but simply in the fact that being a transfer from Texas to Los Angeles means most of my friends are Kings fans. It also means hockey becomes ultra important when the Stars are in town. Can’t-miss games at Staples Center, really. Quick note, Dallas has never lost when I’ve attended a game in Los Angeles. So there’s also that.

This one again goes back to former foes from the Pacific Division as well, and thinking on it, the whole thing is a little odd. Dallas is a cool 1500-plus miles from the Anaheim Ducks, Kings and San Jose Sharks, so relocating them from the Central Division in 1997 has always been a head-scratcher. Then again, divisional alignments have never been satisfactory. The Texas Rangers are in a West division, the Dallas Mavericks are in Midwest, the Dallas Cowboys are in the East (?), and somehow a hockey team playing in the exact same city ends up off the coast of California.

Getting back on track, what’s always fun about this contest is that the two teams consistently seem to be evenly matched. It could be the style of play both have implemented the last few years, or it could be the amount of talent spread across each roster. It also helps that Los Angeles and Dallas have been upper-tier regular season teams the last few campaigns, though the Kings have admittedly found far more success through the postseason than Dallas. Mainly because Dallas hasn’t found any, but moving on.

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