Texas Stars Seek Redemption Against Admirals in Central Division Final

Texas will attempt to overcome three seasons of failure at the hands of Milwaukee

(Credit: Logan Foust/Texas Stars)

The Texas Stars will take on their division rival and ultimate playoff boogieman in the Central Division Finals. Texas will attempt to overcome historical precedent as they battle against the Milwaukee Admirals starting this Thursday at 7 PM in Cedar Park. Find the rest of the series schedule here. 

The Stars and Admirals have been the titans of the division in recent history. In the past three years, Milwaukee has won the division twice and Texas has won once. “Both teams, we like to think that we are the bars of the division,” Stars captain Curtis McKenzie said after practice on Monday. The most recent division championship was ripped away from the Stars’ hands in dramatic fashion. 

Texas led the division this season by four points with only nine games remaining. They also held three games in hand over the Admirals, who were solidly locked in second place. Of the Stars’ nine remaining games, four were against the worst two teams in the division, teams they would likely gain at least a few points on. By every metric, Texas should have locked up the Central Division crown. Stephen even predicted it.

Despite everything pointing towards success, Texas managed to lose six of their last nine games of the season. The season's most brutal losses came at the Admirals' hands. Milwaukee erased the Stars' four-point lead by defeating them in back-to-back games in Texas’ home barn. The Admirals only allowed two goals that weekend, displaying their defensive dominance and goaltending prowess against one of the league's top offenses.

However, the Stars’ scars run deeper than just this season. Texas has been knocked out of the Calder Cup Playoffs by the Admirals in each of the previous two postseasons. Both times, the Stars lost in five games in the best-of-five series. Even more brutally, in last year's loss, the Stars secured a 2-0 series lead on home ice before losing three straight games, and the series, in Milwaukee. History is not on Texas’ side. 

Even the new guys know about the matchup. ATO defenseman Trey Taylor noted, "You hear a lot about Milwaukee. They’re obviously super fast. They’re heavy. They play well in their own end. They’ve got a really good goalie, some really good forwards and really good [defensemen]. It’s going to be a really good test for us and I’m super excited to be a part of it and grateful for the opportunity to play, see and be part of two great teams going at it, head-to-head.”

The Admirals are coming off a shockingly difficult series against the Rockford IceHogs, the only team in the playoffs to finish the regular season with a below .500 point percentage.  It took Milwaukee five games plus overtime to dispose of the IceHogs. Meanwhile, Texas is entering the series after a three-game sweep and a thrilling third-period comeback, capped off with a double-overtime dagger from Cameron Hughes. So, if you had to bet on who has more momentum and confidence coming into this series, the safe money is on the Stars. 

But, the momentum is a fickle thing in playoff hockey. The Dallas Stars have proven that in their own playoff run this year. Dallas entered the playoffs in even worse shape than Texas, having lost seven games in a row to end the season. Despite hobbling into the postseason, Dallas knocked out one of the Stanley Cup favorites, the Colorado Avalanche, in the first round. 

It's an epic battle for Texas and Milwaukee with personnel history as well. Karl Taylor and Greg Rallo roam the bench in Wisconsin. Former Star Matt Murray is the club's starting goaltender and seems to take extra joy in defeating the team that decided not to re-sign him last summer.

What really matters though is what type of team shows up when the puck is dropped. For Texas, playing at their best will require them to bury some painful memories, but it must be done to finally get past their playoff pinch point.

Texas drops the puck against Milwaukee tonight at 7 PM at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.