GALAXY vs. DALLAS BURN
* What: MLS Western Conference finals.
* Format: Game 1 of a best-of-three series.
* Where: Rose Bowl.
* When: 2:30 p.m.
* TV: ESPN.
* Ahead: Game 2, noon, Nov. 7, at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas (ESPN); Game 3, if necessary, 7:30 p.m., Nov. 11, at the Rose Bowl.
* Key matchup: Dallas forward Jason Kreis, the 1999 MLS scoring champion, against the Galaxy’s Kevin Hartman, the 1999 MLS goalkeeping leader.
* Significant statistic: Twenty of 22 MLS playoff series have been won by the team winning the first game of a best-of-three set.
* All-time playoff records: Galaxy 8-6, Burn 5-7.
HOW THEY MATCH UP
GOALKEEPERS
Kevin Hartman played all 32 games and led the league with the lowest goals-against average in MLS history at 0.91. He has not given up a goal in two playoff games. The Burn’s Matt Jordan shared the regular-season shutout lead with Hartman, each having 11, but Dallas might stay with veteran Mark Dodd, who played in Game 3 against Chicago.
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DEFENDERS
The Galaxy’s “final four” of Ezra Hendrickson, Paul Caligiuri, Robin Fraser and Greg Vanney is the best in the league, especially with defensive midfielder Danny Pena just in front of it. The Burn’s defense is more suspect, especially without the injured Brandon Pollard.
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MIDFIELDERS
Mauricio Cienfuegos continues to show why he is the team’s most valuable player. He created the game-winning goals in both playoff victories over Colorado. Dallas has no true playmaker, but Ted Eck and Chad Deering give the team a heading presence that can cause the Galaxy problems, especially on set plays.
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FORWARDS
Carlos Hermosillo has not had the impact he is capable of, largely because teammates do not provide him with the sort of support he needs. The Galaxy scored 36 fewer goals than last season’s record 85. Cobi Jones and Clint Mathis have one playoff goal between them so far. Dallas has the league’s top scorer in Jason Kreis and one of its most elusive and opportunistic forwards in Ariel Graziani. Dante Washington is an added threat.
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STATISTICALLY
The Galaxy leads the all-time series, 12-8, but has lost its most recent two games against Dallas. Twenty of 22 MLS playoff series have been won by the team winning the first game in a best-of-three set.
