Two of the best lines this season are going head-to-head in the first round as the Flames and Stars get set to battle.
Calgary's success this season came on the back of career years for Johnny Gaudreau, Matthew Tkachuk and Elias Lindholm, a line that Darryl Sutter rolled out for every game this season. Gaudreau and Tkachuk each hit 100 points while Lindholm had more than 40 goals and 80 points.
The trio made for one of the best lines at 5 on 5 and finished as the top three members in the plus-minus category.
Going against them is Dallas' dynamic line of Roope Hintz, Jason Robertson and Joe Pavelski. Robertson scored 40 goals in his second NHL season, Pavelski recorded a career-high 81 at the age of 37 and Hintz notched more than 70 points.
Like the Flames' combo, the Stars' top line was one of the strongest in terms of 5 on 5 play and made up for a lot of the team's offensive production.
The two clubs met just two years ago in the 2020 playoffs. The Stars beat the Flames in six games of the first-round matchup on their way to a Stanley Cup Finals appearance.
MORE: NHL playoffs schedule 2022: Full bracket, dates, times, TV channels for every series
The series begins with Game 1 on Tuesday, May 3.
Here's everything you need to know about the matchup between the Flames and Stars.
Key storyline: Can anyone on the Stars score besides their top line?
The Stars have one of the best lines in hockey and the trio of Robertson, Pavelski and Hintz are a big reason why the Stars are playing for the chance at a Cup.
OK, a big reason is probably an understatement. They are the reason why the team is here. That line scored 105 of the team's 233 goals in the regular season, a whopping 45 percent.
Outside of those three, there was only one other 20-goal scorer on the team and that was Tyler Seguin. Dallas had just seven players hit 10 goals, with those four joining Jamie Benn, Denis Gurianov and Jacob Peterson.
Translation: if the Stars' top line doesn't score, the team is screwed.
Flames vs. Stars schedule, TV channels
(All times Eastern)
| Date | Site | Time (ET) | TV |
| Tue., May 3 | at Calgary | 10 p.m. | Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports, ESPN2 |
| Thu., May 5 | at Calgary | 10 p.m. | Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports, TBS |
| Sat., May 7 | at Dallas | 9:30 p.m. | TNT, Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports |
| Mon., May 9 | at Dallas | 9:30 p.m. | TNT, Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports |
| *Wed., May 11 | at Calgary | TBD | TBD |
| *Fri., May 13 | at Dallas | TBD | TBD |
| *Sun., May 15 | at Calgary | TBD | TBD |
*If necessary
Flames vs. Stars odds
Flames: -345
Stars: +251
Odds provided by Sports Interaction
MORE: Championship odds, best bets to win the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup
Flames vs. Stars prediction
It's two teams with two really good top lines. However, one club can get production out of the other three forward lines, the other team has not.
There is a reason why depth is so critical, especially in the playoffs. If the Flames' top line shuts down the Stars' best unit, then I don't see how Dallas stands a chance.
Prediction: Flames in five.
