The Dallas Stars could be cast as an unlikely candidate to win the Stanley Cup. In the regular-season, they ranked 10th in the NHL in winning percentage (.594) and scored 65 fewer goals than the Tampa Bay Lightning.

In 69 games this season, they netted two or fewer goals 32 times. They were shut out six times, including twice in the final week of the regular-season.

They started the season 1-7-1 and finished the 2019-2020 campaign on a six-game losing streak. Does this team seem like one that could win the Stanley Cup?

The first impulse is to say ‘’no way,” but if you look closely at this team you realize they boast all of the characteristics of most of the teams that have won over the past decade:

Hot goalie: Dallas acrobatic netminder Anton Khudobin has become a story, like Antti Niemi in Chicago in 2010, or Tim Thomas in 2011, or Matt Murray in 2016, or Jordan Binnington last season. In addition to getting the job done, each offered a compelling backstory. Few people knew Niemi when he helped Chicago win in 2010. Thomas spent years trying to reach the NHL. Murray, a rookie in 2015-16, showed 13 games of NHL experience when he started his Stanley Cup journey and Binnington seemed to come out of nowhere to become the Blues’ No. 1. Khudobdn’s deal: he is a personable, fun-loving backup who is enjoying the greatest moments of his career.

Lengthy drought: The Stars haven’t won a Stanley Cup in 21 years. When the Blackhawks won in 2010, they ended a 49-year drought. When the Boston Bruins won in 2011, it ended a 39-year drought When the Los Angeles Kings won in 2012, the Washington Capitals won in 2018 and the Blues won last year, it was the franchise’s first Cup.

Veteran brought in to win a Cup: That’s a cliche of a Stanley Cup team, and Dallas has Joe Pavelski, 36, who picked the Stars as a free agent because he thought they had a chance to win. It never happened in 13 years in San Jose, and now he has a shot to win in his first season in Dallas.

Unknown goal scorer: Think back through the years, and remember all of the unsung heroes who found the spotlight. Chris Kontos. John Druce. How about Devante Smith-Pelly for Washington in 2018. The Stars have Joel Kivaranta with five goals and six points in nine playoff games. He only played 11 games in the regular-season.

Captain in need: Jamie Benn has been the Stars’ captain for seven years. Zdeno Chara was captain of the Bruins for six years before they won. Alex Ovechkin was an eight-year captain when the Capitals won.

Mid-season change: On Dec. 10, Rick Bowness was named interim coach to repla
ced the fired Jim Montgomery. Now, he has a chance to win the Stanley Cup. Last season, Craig Berube was an early-season replacement and won the Stanley Cup for St. Louis. Mike Sullivan was hired Dec. 12, 2015, and led the Penguins to a Stanley Cup.

Won a Game 7 en route to Stanley Cup Final: The Stars had to beat the Colorado Avalanche in Game 7 in the second round. Last year, the Blues had to beat the Stars in Game 7 in the second round. In 2018, the Capitals had to win a Game 7 against Tampa to reach the Stanley Cup Finals

Overtime success: The Stars are 5-0 in overtime during this postseason, counting a shootout win in the seeding round. The Capitals were 5-0 in OT when they won in 2018.

The momentum team: The Stars have won six of their last seven, and are playing with unwavering confidence. It’s reminiscent of the 2018 when the Capitals won six of their last seven games to win the Stanley Cup. By the end of the conference final, the Capitals looked like a team of destiny.

Despite what happened in the regular-season, the Stars do indeed resemble the recent Stanley Cup champions.