Dallas Stars (2007 playoff brawl series)

Lore & Background

The 2007 playoff series between the Canucks and Stars was supposed to be a straightforward first-round matchup, but it quickly descended into chaos. The catalyst came in Game 1 when Dallas forward Steve Ott delivered a controversial hit on Canucks rookie Ryan Kesler, igniting a series of retaliations that spiraled into full-scale brawls. By Game 4, the benches emptied twice, and the series became as much about settling scores as winning games. The hatred was personal: Stars agitator Ott, defenseman Stephane Robidas, and captain Brenden Morrow vs. Canucks enforcers Matt Cooke, Kevin Bieksa, and the Sedin twins, who were targeted relentlessly. The series featured multiple fights, a suspension, and a goalie duel between Roberto Luongo and Marty Turco that went to overtime in Game 7. Vancouver won the series 4-3, but the bitterness lingered for years, with fans still referencing 'the brawl series' as the moment the Canucks learned to fight back.

In Their Own Story

The ice was a war zone. Bodies hit the boards, gloves dropped, and the roar of GM Place drowned out the ref's whistle. In Game 4, after another scrum behind the net, both benches emptied—skates scraping, fists flying. Trevor Linden, the aging captain, squared up with a younger Stars forward, his knuckles already bloodied. In the chaos, a Stars player spat at the Canucks logo, and the crowd screamed for retribution. When the final buzzer sounded, the score didn't matter—only the promise that this wasn't over.

Reader's Guide

Opponent: Dallas Stars. The rivalry peaked in the 2007 Western Conference Quarterfinals. What made it personal was the cheap-shot hit by Steve Ott on Ryan Kesler in Game 1, which the Canucks viewed as a deliberate attempt to injure. The series devolved into bench-clearing brawls, with both teams targeting stars like the Sedins and Morrow. The moment that crystallized the hatred came in Game 4, when a scrum after a whistle led to a full-scale line brawl, including both goalies skating to center ice. Fans still reference 'the brawl series' as the night the Canucks shed their soft reputation and embraced a nasty edge.

Did You Know?

• The 2007 series featured two bench-clearing brawls, one in Game 4 and another in Game 6.
• Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo faced over 40 shots in three games of the series, including a 47-save performance in Game 7.
• Dallas forward Steve Ott was suspended for one game after his hit on Ryan Kesler.
• The series was the first playoff meeting between the Canucks and Stars since the team moved from Minnesota in 1993.