Dallas Stars Falling From Playoff Picture Is Last Chance At Motivation
By Josh Clark
A loss on Sunday night came with a price as the Dallas Stars dropped out of the playoff picture for the first time in months. While their play is trending in the right direction, the results aren’t. And if this shift in the standings doesn’t spark them back to life, nothing will.
It’s officially time to worry about the Dallas Stars and their playoff hopes.
After two or three weeks of lingering doubt, the Stars finally capsized last night in a 4-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. While their efforts were improved and they almost took down one of the best teams in the league, they dropped a fifth straight game. Oh, and they fell out of the playoff picture for the first time in three months.
With Anaheim and Colorado both winning their respective games on Sunday, they both moved ahead of the Stars in the wild card race. Not only that, but St. Louis also ascended to within a point of Dallas in the standings.
The worrying started about a month ago when the Stars started slacking on offense. At the time, they owned a comfortable lead (at least when considering the standings this year) in the playoff picture and sat in third place in the Central Division. But over the last 15 games, everything in their game has quickly taken a turn for the worst.
And here we are. It’s Mar. 19, 2018, there are 19 days left in the regular season, and the Dallas Stars are on the outside looking in. That’s not the ideal place to be with only nine games left in the regular season.
But it’s what the Stars will have to deal with. They have dug themselves into a hole and now must find their way out. At the moment, the Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings are directly above Dallas in the two wild card spots. Both teams are playing quality hockey and show no signs of slowing down in their own drives anytime soon.
So not only will the Dallas Stars need to turn in an incredible final stretch, but it looks as though they may need some help along the way.
Dallas Stars
And while things may look bleak, this may be just what the Stars need.
It’s clear that Dallas is lacking a spark right now. They are 1-4-3 in their last eight games and cannot close out games anymore. The Stars are a shell of what they looked like in December and January and have seen their playoff odds cut in half over the past few games.
And now they are in a tight spot. They’ve seen themselves drop from “playoff locks” to “in the hunt” and it’s all because of their lack of effort. They simply cannot finish anymore and now they have to dig their way back into the fight.
That’s where their motivation could come from. Not only because it’s basically their last chance at starting a late push, but also because there’s no more time to struggle.
For the past few weeks, the Dallas Stars have slowly shifted down the Western Conference standings. Now, they are in the danger zone. They know that and have to play with it hanging over their heads for the final nine games.
That can be a positive. When a team is backed into a corner, they have no other option than to show their true colors. They may be good or they may be bad. Regardless of how they turn out, you know that you will see this team’s core for what it really is.
The Stars were able to hide in their playoff spot until now. But now they have been cast out into the spotlight. It’s up to them to answer the call and perform.
Sure, they have some road blocks and yes, their upcoming stretch looks intimidating. But if this team really is a playoff-caliber group that can make a push, they will show it in the final nine games.
Its’ do-or-die time in Dallas. The Stars now have their backs to the wall and have to find a way to emerge from the rubble of the past month.
Dropping from the playoff picture may be just what the Dallas Stars need. It is a reassuring factor that nothing is guaranteed this season and that a constant fight is required to qualify for the postseason.
Next: Stars Must Keep Matching Level Of Their Opponents
They are now in a hole and have to get out if they want to punch their playoff ticket. Will falling to ninth place give them the spark they need? Only time will tell.