Stars Eye Cup Glory, But Wild Lurk Large

The Stars roll into the playoffs with the look of a Cup contender, their depth and goaltending firing on all cylinders after a dominant regular season. Yet the Minnesota Wild stand as that sneaky first-round nightmare, with their forecheck that suffocates high-event teams and a coach who thrives on chaos. Dallas front office whispers suggest they're prepped for the long haul, but one slip against Minnesota could expose cracks before the parade dreams even start.