Or two. Or even three or four.

A whopping five flags -- a black centerpiece flanked by two smaller white ones on each side -- now hang from the rafters of Reunion Arena, all honoring the first Stanley Cup title in franchise history.

Considering that the Dallas Mavericks also are tenants of Reunion Arena, it would be understandable if the Stars felt they had to overdo things just to give the building a championship atmosphere.

But team owner Tom Hicks had a different explanation during the banner-raising ceremony prior to the season opener Friday night, a 6-4 victory over Pittsburgh.

"Tonight we raise five banners, a reminder that although there is one championship, it takes many victories to get there," Hicks told a sellout crowd of 17,001. "Collectively they say there was no better team, no one who worked harder and no one else who brought it home."

The five banners hang directly over the blue line in front of the Stars' bench. The one that matters most is the black one, which has gold and green trim and the words "Stanley Cup Champions" in white.

From farthest to closest, the white ones represent the Presidents' Trophy for best regular-season record, the Pacific Division championship, the Western Conference regular-season championship, and the Campbell Bowl for representing the West in the finals.

The middle two smack of overexuberance because they're covered by the first one. If a team has the best record in hockey, they would have to earn the other two distinctions.

But coach Ken Hitchcock said there was a more specific purpose at work.

"When you see the chronological order of what we've accomplished, it brings to life what a long trek it is," he said.

The journey began when the Stars moved here in 1993.

Their first flag raised was for the 1996-97 Central Division championship. Months later, the No. 7 jersey of Neal Broten, a longtime star for the Minnesota North Stars, was retired and hung next to it.

After reaching the Western Conference finals in 1997-98, the Stars put up three banners: Central Division champs, Western Conference regular-season champs and Presidents' Trophy winners. Those hang over the other blue line.

"It's a lot of accomplishments," said captain Derian Hatcher, who had the honor of unveiling the most prized banner. "But I can't say that some of them don't belong."

Hitchcock probably enjoyed the ceremony more than anyone because he was saving his emotions.

Sure, the actual winning moment was a thrill and the parade-pep rally back home was great, but Hitchcock considered those "window dressing."

"Seeing the banner go up and getting your name on the Cup, those are everlasting," he said. "They are visuals that never go away. That's what makes it really special."