8* play on the Dallas Stars.

The Minnesota Wild can't like their chances of getting past the Stars after losing Games 1 and 2 of this Conference Quarterfinal in Dallas. The series now shifts to Minnesota for a pair of match-ups at Xcel Energy Center, and I think the Stars will put the pedal to the metal from the get go in order to not give the Wild a breather.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Previous Meetings - The Stars have won six of the past seven and 11 of the last 13 meetings between the two teams. Dallas won all three meetings in Minnesota during the regular season so success at Xcel Energy Center has come easy for the Stars lately.

2. Minnesota's Recent Games - The Wild stumbled into the playoffs losing each of their last five regular-season match-ups and they've shown no signs of turning it around anytime soon. They've averaged just one goal per game over a seven-game skid with the playoffs included, and the loss of injured leading goal scorer Zach Parise has proved too much to overcome.

3. X-Factor - Dallas' netminder Kari Lehtonen has won eight of his last nine outings and five straight behind a 1.41 goals-against average.

Selection: This is a play on the Dallas Stars (8*)