SJS vs DAL

The Stars and Sharks will kick it old school as they face off in a division rivalry that will build on the eight meetings they have already had this season.

San Jose went 4-4-0 in the eight games, while Dallas was 4-2-2. The two teams were well-matched and intense in their competition.

"I'd say both of us have been waiting for this,'' Stars forward Steve Ott said. "They think it's their year, and we think it's our year. We're both very hungry teams.''

Dallas has either won the Pacific Division or finished second in six of the past nine seasons. The Sharks have finished first or second in six of the past seven seasons. They know each other, and they don't really like each other.

Last encounter a penalty festival

In the final game of the season between the two teams, there were 160 penalty minutes for the normally calm combatants.

"I don't think you're going to see anything like that in the series,'' said Stars captain Brenden Morrow. There's going to be a lot more discipline.''

The Sharks allowed only 3.14 power-play opportunities per game in the first round, and ranked second in the NHL is allowing the fewest power-play goals during the regular season. The Stars capitalized on their power play in the
first round, but they may have to be more patient against the Sharks.

"If we can keep our speed up and our skating, then maybe we can draw a few more calls than Calgary was able to," Stars centre Mike Modano said. "For the most part, we'll stick with our game plan. If you work hard and do some
good things, you might get some calls."

San Jose, meanwhile, will stick with its game plans, as well.

"We made a good step up and now we have to keep it up and elevate our game even more,'' Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov said. "In order to go through the second round, we have to play better."

Zubov on the mend

Dallas defenceman Sergei Zubov is practicing with the team and skating hard, but his status for Game 1 still is up in the air. Zubov has missed the second half of the season with foot, groin and sports hernia injuries.

He went to Germany in early April to have a special procedure done on the sports hernia, and he said he is feeling much better.

"As long as I feel I am effective for the team, I will be out there," Zubov said after practice Tuesday. "I am almost there, that's all I can tell you."

Interesting numbers:

Dallas is 6-1-1 in its last eight trips to HP Pavilion.
San Jose is 7-5-0 in its last 12 trips to Dallas.
San Jose ranked first in PK in the regular season at 85.8 per cent.
Dallas ranked second in PK at 85.5 per cent.
San Jose ranked third in GAA at 2.28.
Dallas ranked sixth in GAA at 2.49.
San Jose ranked second in shots on goal against at 24.2.
Dallas ranked fourth in shots on goal against 26.1.

Sounds like a defensive series.