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Shania Twain, Stanley Cup playoff muse for Dallas Stars

Shania Twain, Stanley Cup playoff muse for Dallas Stars

NHL teams find focus and motivation in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in different ways. Some will have a puzzle that gets filled with each win. Some hand out postgame hats or jackets. Others have locker-room traditions, like a particular pump-up or celebration song.

Which brings us to the unlikely, yet completely feasible, union of the Dallas Stars and country pop singer Shania Twain.

In waiting to speak to the Stars before Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series, reporters were delayed from speaking to players until the playing of (and singing long with) Shania Twain’s “You’re Still The One” was over. Stars center Jason Spezza did the policing, according to Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News:

Imagine their surprise when Spezza said they had to wait until the Shania Twain song was over. Captain Jamie Benn, reading the vibe from his teammate, walked over to the modern-day "boombox" and turned the volume up to 11.

Rituals, after all, are rituals.

The Stars were blown out in Game 3 of their series against the St. Louis Blues, 6-1, making Game 4 all but a must-win.

So they blasted Shania:

And after the Game 4 overtime win against the Blues, evening their series at 2-2, Spezza had a message to the media:

The Stars have channeled Shania Power all season long in their locker room, but the national media has just taken notice during the playoffs.

As has Ms. Twain, as evidenced by this exchange with Benn:

There’s something absolutely precious to think that the Dallas Stars, as they rallied to defeat the Blues, have “Ain't nothing better/We beat the odds together/I'm glad we didn't listen/Look at what we would be missing” floating through their heads during every goal celebration.

So what's next? Shania song as a goal song? Shania Power vs. Mr. Carrie Underwood in the conference final?

And will she ever have to atone for this treason?

NHL
NHL

Honestly, the way this Shania Twain thing becomes truly legendary is (a) the Stars win the Cup and (b) Spezza is caught whispering “Looks like we made it/Look how far we've come, my baby” while kissing it and (c) Shania’s in the locker room drinking Shiner from the Cup.

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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

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