GUTSY

"To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing."

With the trade deadline approaching in late February the Stars were rolling. Goalie Marty Turco was playing the best of any target in the league. They had navigated a tough Western Canadian swing with the ease of a sight see-er on CN Rail's "Rocky Mountain Express". And they were en route to a record setting 12-2 month.

Plan the parade - Order the rings, right?

No?

O.K then. Maybe add a little depth on D or take a flyer on some forward who has been failing his way through the first five months of the season and then get that ring finger sized?

Nope, Les Jackson and Brett Hull instead went the bold route.

Their team had won 12 of 14 when the necks were stuck out and the trigger pulled on a blockbuster trade to bring a proven playoff performer and Stanley Cup champion into the fold.

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained."

The deal for Brad Richards brought the potential to break a game open to a group that perennially hung around games hoping to "find a way to win".

"Hoping isn't doing."

In Game 2 the guy who had struggled to assimilate in the regular season turned one of those 3-2 playoff nail biters that invite bad hops and nerve-induced rigomortous, into a 4-2 "we're in control" statement with one burst of speed and a roll of the wrist.

"Form comes and goes, pedigree remains."

Yes its just two wins, and yes there is a lot of hockey left in this opening round series, but when was the last time the Stars held a 2-0 series lead?

That was rhetorical. It was late April 2000 following 4-0 and 1-0 victories over the Sharks at Reunion Arena - eleven playoff series ago.

And at the risk of getting ahead of ourselves here, the last time the franchise was 3-0 to start a series? - late April 1999 vs Edmonton.

"History always repeats itself"

Oh, and just for levity, the last time the Stars went up 2-0 in a series when starting on the road was April 1992 at Detroit. Final tabulation at series end - Red Wings 4, North Stars 3.

"Gulp" - what was that history thing again?