The Dallas Stars Are In The NHL's Western Conference Finals And If Its Your First Time Going To A Game, Let This Guide Help You.

Texas Hockey is alive and well and the Dallas Stars are a couple of games away from returning to the Stanley Cup Finals.

If you've haven't been to a NHL game before, GO! While the tickets for the playoffs will probably be steep, at least make plans to go next year for a cool experience. The Stars will play the Edmonton Oilers in game 1 on Thursday (May 23) at the American Airlines Center.

If its going to be your first ever hockey game, let me say you're going to ENJOY it and to get you ready I'm going to share my experience at a game which was the Dallas Stars vs. the Ottawa Senators.

Let me tell you what's up rookie.

PARKING IS GONNA COST YA!

I will admit that I got sticker shock when I pulled up to park at the AAC in downtown Dallas.

In all honesty, it was my first time every visiting the arena so I didn't know that it would cost me at least $30 to park in one of the parking lots. I started to park in the street next to some of the ritzy condos around the AAC but after seeing a guy get a ticket, I paid the price.

GET THERE BEFORE THE PUCK DROPS

I admit that I was late to the game and unfortunately, the home team Stars were already down TWO GOALS to Ottawa in the first period which kind of had the whole arena bummed.

But the reason I'm advising you to get there before the puck drops is due to the fact that some idiot might sit in your seat....or even worst bring their whole FAMILY to your row and take your seat. I didn't "narc" them out, I just sat in the next empty seat.

WHERE'S EVERYONE GOING? IT'S INTERMISSION

I'm a casual and this was my first game so when the first period ended, I was kind of thrown off by damn near the entire arena getting up and seemingly leaving.

It quickly dawned on me that it was just intermission and folks were getting concessions or whatever. Of course there's entertainment, giveaways and things like that but I was more fascinated by the Zamboni's and the workers getting the ice ready for some reason.

USE AN INTERMISSION TO LOOK AROUND!

During the 2nd Intermission, I walked around and checked some stuff out including the Dallas Stars Trophy case where you can see the Stars Stanley Cup from 1999 and other trophies.

ANYTHING ELSE I NEED TO KNOW SO I DON'T END UP IN THE SIN BIN?

I will say that it was kind of hard to keep up with the action at the beginning because of the SPEED of the game. In real time, these players are FLYING so remember to get your eyes ready for a workout.

Other than that, no matter the score, you'll feel the energy of the game begin to get into you and you'll be on your feet like a longtime fan rooting for the action before its all said and done.

Good luck to the Stars and bring another trophy home to the Lone Star State!

Here's some more sights from my first NHL game!