First Look

OFFENSE: The Stars have six forwards who scored at least 20 goals. Bill Guerin, Mike Modano, Scott Young, Pierre Turgeon and Jason Arnott are all big, physical players. Claude Lemieux is at his nastiest in the playoffs, which is why the Stars acquired him from Phoenix. But this is not a sound group. Guerin has been out six weeks because of a thigh injury. Turgeon hasn’t played since March 9 because of an ankle injury. Arnott left Game 5 against Edmonton because of an undisclosed injury. The Ducks have yet to get a playoff goal from Petr Sykora, who had a team-high 34 goals during the season and has scored 22 playoff goals. They did get key contribution from third- and fourth-line players against Detroit.

DEFENSE: The Ducks showed in the Detroit series -- as they did all season -- that they have one of the best defensive corps in the NHL. They have no big names, merely an efficient, balanced group. Rookie Kurt Sauer continues to grow and may become one of the NHL’s best. The Stars have big names on defense, and depth as well. Derian Hatcher is big and vicious. Sergei Zubov is the type of offensive defenseman that a Stanley Cup champion needs.

GOALTENDING: Dallas’ Marty Turco set an NHL record with a 1.72 goals-against average. That was the regular season. There has been no better goalie in the playoffs than the Ducks’ Jean-Sebastien Giguere.

COACHING: Mike Babcock made all the right moves at all the right times against the Red Wings. He did that throughout the regular season and removed all doubts about his playoff capabilities. Dave Tippett probably hasn’t received his due in Dallas. Everyone points to the enormous amount of money the Stars spent during the off-season. Yet, Tippett, a former King assistant, has managed the situation well and kept winning even when injuries took his best players away for long stretches.

FINAL ANALYSIS: The Stars had never beaten the Red Wings in a playoff series. The Ducks helped them out there. It’s the last handout the Stars can expect. Dallas was not in the playoffs last season and spent millions for defense ... and offense. Dallas spent more than $60 million for free agents, taking a page from the New York Yankee way to build a champion. Conventional wisdom has the Stars advancing. That said, the Disney-owned Angels beat the Yankees in the playoffs. The Ducks have at least a chance to keep that company trend going.