NEW JERSEY VS. CAROLINA OTTAWA VS. TORONTO WASHINGTON VS. PITTSBURGH PHILADELPHIA VS. BUFFALO COLORADO VS. VANCOUVER DETROIT VS. LOS ANGELES DALLAS VS. EDMONTON ST. LOUIS VS. SAN JOSE

Thursday, April 26 No love lost for Stars in Edmonton Mike Heika Special to ESPN.com EDMONTON, Alberta -- After a 1,700-mile flight took him from the sultry spring of Dallas to a crisp Albertan morning, Stars coach Ken Hitchcock thought he would go out for a little walk before Game 3 just to relax. As he zipped up his jacket and dug his hands deep into his pockets to fight the chill, Hitchcock was also kept warm by the memories of growing up in Edmonton. He drew in the downtown sights the way he drew in the fresh air, and the 8mm projector of his mind whirred back to weekends past when he and his buddies would hop a bus and hit the town. Ken Hitchcock hasn't received the warmest of greetings in Edmonton. But just as Hitchcock was about to let a little smile crease his face, he was jolted back to reality. "I guess they have a new way of waving, 'Hi' here," he said later of the one-finger salutes and taunts he received from Oilers fans who recognized him on his little stroll. "Wow, they're pretty jacked up here already." So much for the local-boy-does-good story line. Not when it comes down to Stars vs. Oilers. Nope, you're either for us or against us in this one -- and, as far as Oilers fans are concerned, Hitchcock is as Texas as Sam Houston. Heading into Game 4 of the series Tuesday at Skyreach Centre, the lines are clearly drawn in what has become one of the most enjoyable playoff rivalries in the NHL. The two teams are meeting for the fifth consecutive time in the postseason. And while the Stars hold a clear advantage in victories at 17-7, there is no proof of domination on the ice. Of the 24 games, 17 have been decided by one-goal -- seven of those in overtime. With a 2-1 series lead, both of Dallas' wins this season have come in the extra period. "It's just so close every game that you kind of throw up your hands and get used to it," Hitchcock said. "You wish it could be different, you hope to push it and get a big lead and have a little breathing room, but it just doesn't happen. So you accept it's going to be close and you start to expect that." Dallas players were so stunned by Edmonton's two-goal comeback in the final minute and three seconds of Game 3 that they viewed the happenings as almost comical. Ed Belfour wandered from his net to give up an easy goal with 1:03 remaining and then Edmonton's Rem Murray deflected in the tying goal with 6.4 seconds left -- with a broken stick, nonetheless. So does anything surprise you in this series anymore, Brett Hull? "Not after last night," Hull responded with a laugh. "I think that pretty well clinched it." The Stars have seen collapses and comebacks. They have witnessed their own fans turn ugly in Game 2, pelting the Oilers with beer and water bottles in a disgusting act of frustration aimed at referee Kerry Frasier. They have heard the Edmonton faithful taunt goalie Ed Belfour during the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner. Both teams have been battered and bruised from monster hits that seem to grow in intensity with each game -- just like the hate and respect between the players seems to grow. "We're so evenly matched, it's become a battle of wills," Oilers coach Craig MacTavish said. And while that battle has created some tense moments, MacTavish says he still enjoys it. "You can have fun when you're in it, sure," said the first-year head coach who was an assitant last season. "I enjoy competition, so I enjoy being involved directly in the game and these are great games." Of course. When it's over, MacTavish said you're left to deal with "happiness and heartbreak." For the Stars, the series has brought happiness. In fact, it's been a downright smart wakeup call for the previous two seasons. The Oilers have both speed and grit, and the Stars have had to find new ways to compete with that combination. In doing so, Dallas has been given the tools that would help the Stars defeat Colorado in the Conference Finals in 1999 and 2000. "Every time we play these guys, it's one of our toughest series, and that does force you to get right into the playoffs," center Mike Modano said. "You have to be ready right from Game 1." For the Oilers, the match-up has been much more frustrating. It has been a test of a young and improving team vs. experienced veterans. It has been a test of small market vs. new money. It has been, for the fans at least, a battle of everything that is Canada vs. everything that is the United States. The Oilers had to trade Bill Guerin earlier in the season rather than lose him to eventual free agency. They may have to make the same decision on Doug Weight in the summer. The Stars, meanwhile, have acquired two of their biggest stars -- Belfour and Hull -- on the open market and have said that they will look to add another high-dollar player this summer. That's part of the reason the Oilers fans are so animated. That's part of the reason the Skyreach Centre shakes when a goal is scored. That's part of the reason this series is so much fun. But ask Ken Hitchcock if the cultural differences play a role in this rivalry and he'll shake his head no. "I just think they're tired of looking at us," he said. "This is just like in the old days when you had town vs. town. You play each other long enough, you'll find plenty of reasons to hate each other." Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News covers the Western Conference for ESPN.com. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories