The Matchup: Dominik Hasek vs. Dallas' stars

The Question: Who will win this 1999 Cup finals rematch?

Dominik Hasek

Hull, Modano and Co.

Hot Hasek has the edge
The Dallas-Buffalo game should be a great one for this time of year. Adding to the drama should be the matchup between Sabres goalie Dominik Hasek and the Stars' top forwards, Brett Hull, Mike Modano and Joe Nieuwendyk.

While Hasek is back on form, recording two shutouts in his past three games, the Stars should be well-rested. Although they played -- and lost -- in Columbus on Tuesday night, the Stars only had one game in the previous 10 days. After the Columbus game, even though they only scored twice, the Stars forwards should be clicking pretty well to face Hasek and the Sabres.

The three Dallas forwards have different styles. Modano is one of the league's great players to watch because he has excellent speed, a terrific wrist and slap shot, and an ability to carry the play and the momentum. One of the most dangerous aspects of his game is that he will take surprising shots from unexpected places, even from bad angles. Sometimes, Modano will be below the faceoff dot and pull the trigger. He has great sense of where the net is. And like a lot of goaltenders, Hasek will go down. So, Modano will try to go top shelf on him.

Hull has probably the quickest and best release in the NHL. But strangely, even though he's scored more than 600 goals in his career, he has that uncanny ability to get the other team to forget about him for a few seconds inside the blue line. He slides away and stays out of the picture for a couple of seconds. Then he returns to the scoring area or a place he can score from -- maybe off to the side somewhere. Then, his stick will be in the air, and his teammates know how to find him. Hull just doesn't miss the target. His shot is usually in an area where it has a chance to go in. He's one of the true, pure goal scorers who always seems to make the right shot.

Nieuwendyk has an excellent all-around game and is a solid playmaker. But when Nieuwendyk is really on his game, he plays like a power winger, like a Brendan Shanahan or Keith Tkachuk. Nieuwendyk has good speed, drives wide and uses his body extremely well. And he can really take the puck to the net with tenacity and put fear in the goaltender. He can come in on top of Hasek and make great moves and plays. Plus, Nieuwendyk has a sneaky-good wrist shot that he mixes up well. When it looks like he's driving wide and will take the puck right to the crease, he snaps off a shot.

Hasek, however, looks like he's back on top of his game. Most of the time people will say, "As Dom goes, so go the Sabres." That is true, but people seem to underestimate how valuable it is to Hasek for the team to be playing well in front of him. The Sabres, who have won seven of their past eight games, are playing well in every facet of the game, even without holdout Michael Peca.

They are excelling in penalty killing, which will be an important part of Wednesday's game. If the Sabres give Hull, Modano and Nieuwendyk chances on the power play, not even Hasek can do a lot about it. If they are hitting the net with shots, some of them will go in because they are so good at creating chances on the power play. The three Stars forwards are all so good on the power play. They move the puck around, with Sergei Zubov at the point. Buffalo can't afford to take many penalties.

Who will come out on top?

When Hasek is on a roll, like he is now, he has the edge. The odds normally favor the goaltender in these situations. When Hasek gets into a zone, he does it like no other goaltender over the past five years. That's why he was the league's MVP and a multiple Vezina Trophy winner.

Hasek is the most intimidating of all the goaltenders. He seems to take away everyone's hope because there is no book on Hasek. You don't know what he's going to do. He's never out of any play. His legs are flailing in the air, and he stops shots he's not supposed to stop.

The three Dallas players are experienced enough that they know to keep firing shots, and hopefully a few shots will find their way to the back of the net. But sometimes against Hasek, the more shots he sees, the better he gets. A lot of teams will try to be selective against Hasek and make their scoring chances count. That's easier said than done.

I like Hasek's chances of stopping the three Stars forwards. The memories still linger from the Stanley Cup finals two years ago. And Hasek is such a competitor that he and his teammates will always have extra incentive to beat the Stars.

Brian Engblom is a color commentator and analyst for ESPN's NHL coverage. He played 11 seasons in the NHL.