TORONTO -- The Toronto Marlies have enjoyed plenty of success so far in the 2014 American Hockey League playoffs, sweeping their first two series to secure a spot in the Western Conference Final. But despite their perfect 7-0 post-season record, the Marlies wont be taking their next opponent, the Texas Stars, lightly. "We know were not going to win every game," said centre Peter Holland. "If we are going to make it to the Calder Cup (final) and were going to make a push like that, we know were not going to sweep the whole way through. Thats just not realistic." Texas (48-18-10) is the reigning Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy winner with the leagues best regular season record. The Stars roster also boasts the leagues MVP in Travis Morin and Rookie of the Year in Curtis McKenzie. Morin leads the Stars in playoff scoring with two goals and eight assists in nine games, followed closely by Mike Heddens five goals and four assists. The series begins Friday in Cedar Park, Tex. The Stars, like the Marlies (45-25-6), swept their first round matchup against the Oklahoma City Barons and then used six games to dispatch the defending Calder Cup champion Grand Rapids Griffins. Marlies head coach Steve Spott was in Texas Sunday to see the Stars down the Griffins 7-1 in the series clincher. "Theyre the No. 1 team in the league, were an underdog, lets not kid ourselves, were an underdog," Spott said. "I sound like Bruce (Boudreau) right now in Anaheim, but we definitely are, were underdogs, we understand that, but weve been underdogs since Sept. 1 in this league." Spott, who was the head coach of the Kitchener Rangers from 2008-13 before joining the Marlies, has coached or coached against as many as six members of the Stars organization including forwards Radek Faksa and Hedden, both of whom played for the Rangers. "Theyve got depth, theyre well coached and its going to be a heck of a series," said Spott. "I think these are two premiere clubs in the league the way theyre playing right now and its going to be a tough series. I think weve been searching for adversity. I think were going to find it and its going to test our identity." The Marlies were 2-2-0 against the Stars this season losing both meetings at Cedar Park Center. Toronto was out-scored 11-2 in the losses. Spencer Abbott and Josh Leivo each had three points during the season series while Marlies leading playoff scorer Jerry DAmigo had two goals and Greg McKegg added three assists. Drew MacIntyre, who has a 1.56 goals-against average and a .949 save percentage in the post-season, appeared in all four regular season meetings, posting a 3.00 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage. An area of concern against Texas could be Torontos power play, which went 1-for-14 during the season series. In the playoffs, though, the Marlies have the top-ranked power play among teams currently playing at 25 per cent efficiency. "Weve really got to make sure our special teams are on top of it cause they can win or lose you games at this time of the year," said Holland. "Weve got to make sure our power play is scoring goals for us and our penalty kill is stopping them." Holland, who has four goals and six points in four games after missing the first three playoff games to recover from injury, didnt play in the regular season series. Spott says Holland is a key ingredient to the power play. "When you drop in Holland and you drop in Abbott, your power play becomes a lot better," said Spott. "What we do is overrated sometimes. We can put in the plan, but theyve got to execute it. "When theres something not there, Peter Holland can create something so I think thats what makes the difference. " Game 2 of the series goes Monday in Texas before moving to Toronto for Games 3-5 beginning May 28 at Ricoh Coliseum. Notes: Defenceman Andrew MacWilliam (upper body), who was injured in Game 3 of the Chicago series, will be a game-time decision for Game 1. Spott said forward Tyler Biggs has been battling a stomach virus, which caused him to lose 11 pounds in a 24-hour period this week. Air Jordan Discount .com) - The Kansas City Chiefs activated linebacker Joe Mays from short-term injured reserve on Saturday. Jordan China . The (14-15-5) Jets are seventh in the Central Division with 33 points. They trail sixth place Nashville and fifth place Dallas by two points. https://www.jordanchina.us/ .com) - The 2014 Holiday Bowl is the first postseason venture pitting a pair of ranked foes against each other, as No. Air Jordan China . Earnshaw, 31, most recently spent time on loan in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv from Welsh club Cardiff City, which plays in Englands second-tier League Championship. Earnshaw began his career with Cardiff Citys youth program and turned professional in 1998. Cheap Air Jordan Free Shipping . It was a move of some time in the making. “He hasnt thrown well, clearly some guys are being used more than him right now and the only way to get out of this funk is to pitch,” said general manager Alex Anthopoulos.With the NHLs free agency period just days away from opening, teams are making decisions on how to build their rosters for next season. Check out todays rumours and speculation from around the NHL beat, and follow TSN.ca each day until July 5 for all the updates. Be sure to tune in to TSN2 and visit TSN.ca on July 5 for Free Agent Frenzy, starting at Noon et/9am pt. Something Bruin? For Ottawas hockey fans it is downright unfathomable to consider Daniel Alfredsson wearing any other jersey than the Senators, but Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli isnt letting that get in the way of trying to make it a reality. TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun of ESPN reported today that Chiarelli – a former Senators executive himself – reached out to Alfredssons camp and spoke with them “at great length” in hopes of luring the pending free agent to Boston for the coming season. Chiarelli was believed to be interested in acquiring Alfredsson at the 2013 NHL Trade Deadline, but the Senators – still in the playoff hunt at the time – did not opt to move their franchise face. The 2012-13 season marked the final one for the 40-year-old Alfredsson on a four-year deal he signed prior to 2009-10 worth an annual average value of $4.875 million. His 2012-13 salary was $1 million. The Nathan Horton Tour According to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun on Twitter, unrestricted free agent forward Nathan Horton is already visiting an NHL team in its respective city today. No one with the Jackets nor with his camp will confirm it, but LeBrun believes he was in Columbus. LeBrun believes hell end up in a quieter, non-traditional hockey market. Danny Boy With Vincent Lecavalier off the market, some of the focus will now be on unrestricted free agent Daniel Briere. The Canadiens, having lost out on Lecavalier, made contact with Brieres camp Tuesday night, a source confirmed to Pierre LeBrun. Sources also indicated that the New Jersey Devils and Nashville Predators are among the teams to show solid interest in Briere and have already spoken to the Briere camp, which is led by agent Pat Brisson. Other teams were expected to contact Brieres camp Tuesday night and Wednesday. Brieree is apparently no longer considering the New York Islanders, but the New Jersey Devils are one of the finalists, according to Newsdays Arthur Staple.dddddddddddd Briere told the Buffalo News earlier Wednesday he was down to eight teams, including his former team the Sabres. Other notes from Pierre LeBrun: - Rob Scuderis agent, Steve Bartlett, said he began to hear from other teams Wednesday regarding his client, but the Los Angeles Kings remain very much in the mix for the unrestricted free agent. - Patrice Bergeron and the Bruins are close to agreeing to an extension that LeBrun believes will pay him between $52-54 million. - Three teams have reached out to Bill Zito, the agent for Tim Thomas, on Wednesday morning to express their interest in signing the veteran netminder. Jacket Fitting Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen is headed into his first free agent season in the NHL and he already knows what hell be looking for once the bell rings on July 5. Kekalainen told the Columbus Dispatch that a scoring forward is definitely on his shopping list, but that theyre more interested in skill over size. “If you ask anybody, theyd take a 6-5 guy who scores 30 goals over a 5-8 guy who scores 30 goals,” Kekalainen told Aaron Portzline of the Dispatch. “But me personally, I prefer the small guys who play with big heart to the big guys who are less passionate.” The biggest names available are blends of size and skill, players like David Clarkson and Nathan Horton. However, if Kekalainen is true to his word it could open the door for the Jackets to grab a talent like Danny Briere, Valtteri Filppula or Clarke MacArthur. Ring Ring The open market has lit up the phone lines for Los Angeles Kings defenceman Rob Scuderi. While the Kings are still very much in the mix, LeBrun confirmed that there remains interest from other teams on the 34-year-old. Scuderi just completed a four-year, $13.6 million deal he signed with the Kings prior to 2009-10. Off The Table As tweeted by TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger on Wednesday, the Canucks buyout of defenceman Keith Ballard means that Alexander Edler is off the market. ' ' '