Trends pop up and fade away, war ends and then starts again, everyone gets a little older and wiser. A lot can happen in a decade. And as fuzzy a memory as it may seem, just 10 years ago a lot was happening here in Dallas. That year the Dallas Stars took home the Stanley Cup, to the surprise of anyone outside of Texas who didn’t know the state even had ice, let alone a hockey team.

Now a decade later, and after countless playoff appearances and disappointments, the Stars are looking to carve their name into hockey’s most sought-after chalice all over again. And while past years found Dallas’ boys in black falling short, this year seems altogether different. The Stars might have come into the first round of the NHL playoffs against the Anaheim Ducks as underdogs, but that reputation had more bark than bite. Acrobatics such as the four-goal outburst in the third period of Game Six gave Dallas a 12-4 edge in the final 20 minutes of the series. Even without injured All-Star defensemen Sergei Zubov and Philippe Boucher, the Stars took an early lead and eventually dominated the series 4-2 with impressive heroics throughout.

Now the Stars are similarly starting out round two against the San Jose Sharks. In their first second-round contest since 2003, the Stars lost a 2-1 third-period lead to find themselves in overtime for the first time in this postseason. But the Stars didn’t wane in intensity for very long. Brenden Morrow scored two goals, including the game-winner in overtime, to lead the Stars to a 3-2 victory over the Sharks at the HP Pavilion on Friday night in Game One of their best-of-seven Western Conference semi-final series.

Sunday evening found the Stars playing in Game Two of the series at San Jose still reeling from Friday’s victory. Niklas Hagman scored twice during Dallas’ four-goal third period explosion, Mike Ribeiro contributed a first-period score, and Brad Richards added three assists. Another come-from-behind victory for the Stars, it’s also their eighth win of their past nine in San Jose. Goalie Marty Turco made 29 brilliant saves, of which 22 alone were in the first two periods.

Now the Stars have taken a commanding lead in the second round of the NHL playoffs, with game three of the series taking place tonight in Dallas. So get out there and support the same spirit that brought Dallas a Stanley Cup in 1998. Dallas might not have ice year round, and national championships may only come once a decade, but pride in the boys backing your town should never wane.