WESTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW CAPSULES

No. 3 DALLAS

vs.

No. 6 EDMONTON

Best of seven

Wednesday at Dallas, 5 p.m.

Saturday at Dallas, 1 p.m.

Sunday at Edmonton, 5 p.m.

Tuesday at Edmonton, 6 p.m.

April 19 *at Dallas, 5 p.m.

April 21 *at Edmonton, 4 p.m.

April 23 *at Dallas, 4 p.m.

* if necessary; all times Pacific

THE BREAKDOWN

* Team records: Dallas 48-24-8-2, Edmonton 39-28-12-3.

* Season series: Dallas 3-1-0.

* Coaches: DAL--Ken Hitchcock 43-27 (.614) in playoffs. EDM--Craig MacTavish, 0-0 (.000) in playoffs.

* Scouting report: The last thing the Oilers wanted was to meet Dallas. Since losing to the Oilers in seven games in 1997, the Stars have thoroughly dominated Edmonton in the playoffs, winning 12 of the last 14 games. Dallas dealt with nagging injuries and off-ice controversies before quietly coming together and finishing the season 10-0-3. Mike Modano continues to prove that he is one of the game’s best two-way players. Brett Hull and Joe Nieuwendyk lead a veteran group of forwards. Dallas’ defensive foursome of Derian Hatcher, Darryl Sydor, Richard Matvichuk and Sergei Zubov is as good as any in the NHL. Led by captain Doug Weight and winger Ryan Smyth, the Oilers have speed, talent and scoring, but they are woefully short on experience. Janne Niinimaa leads a young and capable defensive unit. Edmonton must try to score early to get the Stars out of their suffocating style of play.

* Goaltending: Ed Belfour pulled his annual tantrum by walking out on the team but settled down after February and has lost only two games since. Belfour elevates his play to another level in the playoffs. Tommy Salo was a workhorse in goal for the Oilers, posting the second-highest minute total in the NHL while getting a career-high 35 wins. Salo will have to be nearly perfect for the Oilers to have a shot at winning the series.

* Team leaders: DAL--Brett Hull (39 goals), Mike Modano (51 assists, 84 points). EDM--Ryan Smyth (31 goals), Doug Weight (65 assists, 90 points).

* Late season additions: DAL--D Grant Ledyard. EDM--None.

* Injury report: DAL--LW Mike Keane (chest) day to day. EDM--D Frantisek Musil (neck), indefinite.

*--*

THE MATCHUPS DAL EDM Goals scored 241 (10) 243 (9) Goals allowed 187 (2) 222 (15) Power play pct. 19.6 (6) 14.8 (21) Penalty killing 86.2 (4) 83.8 (16) Goals against avg. 2.26 (2) 2.67 (15) Save percentage .908 (9) .896 (20) Avg. penalty min. 12.7 (4) 15.7 (18) Short-handed goals 7 (T20) 13 (T5)

*--*