The Western Conference's Next Great Rivalry?

The Western Conference has been home to many of the NHL's most bitter rivalries, from the Battle of Alberta to Blues/Blackhawks to Red Wings/Avalanche, but it's a new rivalry that will be getting the attention on Saturday night as the Dallas Stars head into Nashville to face the Predators. A Dallas win would move the Stars into fifth place in the Conference and set-up a potential first round playoff matchup with... the Preds.

Tonight's matchup, however, is important for another reason -- it marks the return of Predator winger Jordin Tootoo from the five-game suspension he received for knocking out Stars' blueliner Stephane Robidas. Dallas tough guy Steve Ott missed that game with an ankle injury, but he -- and his fists -- will be in the lineup tonight.

Also adding fuel to the fire were Dallas owner Jim Lites' comments about how the host Predators handled Stars center Mike Modano's goal which set the all-time record for most goals by an American-born player in that very same game. Said Lites of the Nashville organization:

"Their owner, management, public relations people, coaching staff -- I think they all failed the game. It's because of people like Mike Modano that they even have a team in Nashville. He has helped pioneer the game in the South, and for him to be treated like that in a milestone moment ... it's just a horrible thing."

While firing up the outrage machine, I guess Lites had forgotten about this little tidbit:

At the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, Dallas Stars forward Mike Modano said he thought that Nashville and Carolina should be contracted.

Oops!

In retrospect, I'm sure Mr. Lites will see fit to forgive the Predators owner, management, public relations people and coaching staff for not stopping the game to fete a guy who, if he had his druthers, would see them all out of jobs.

Either that or he's just trying to build drama in the West's next great rivalry.