Dallas Stars To Finish Season Short Of Goals

The Dallas Stars sit just three weeks away from the end of the 2014-2015 season, and remain on the outside looking in.

The Dallas Stars currently rest eight points out of the final wild card spot and nine points out of the first wild card spot. With 11 games to go in the season, they have a chance at 22 more points. At the moment, they rest at 76 points. With a schedule packed full of hard-nosed teams remaining, and the other teams the Stars are battling with in the standings going on outrageous winning streaks, their playoff hopes grow slimmer and slimmer as each day passes.

The Dallas Stars next chance at two points is Saturday night against the Chicago Blackhawks at the American Airlines Center, a place they have not beaten the Hawks at since October 7, 2011. The odds once again seem stacked against the Stars with their pathetic home record and the Blackhawks dominance of the Stars over the last few seasons. But nonetheless, we will continue to watch, at least until mathematics comes in and completely eliminates the Stars postseason hopes.

I thought it would be a good idea to take a hypothetical look at the remainder of the Stars season, as well as a look at all the other teams left in the race, and try and build as clear a picture as possible for how the standings will look after the final regular season game in the NHL has been played and who will qualify for the postseason.

Here is a look at the standings as of Saturday, March 21st:

1. Minnesota Wild 71 GP 85 PTS

2. Winnipeg Jets 71 GP 84 PTS

3. Los Angeles Kings 70 GP 82 PTS

4. Colorado Avalanche 71 GP 79 PTS

5. San Jose Sharks 71 GP 78 PTS

6. Dallas Stars 71 GP 76 PTS

So here is a look and guesstimate of how each team will fare for the rest of the season and where each will land once the regular season clock hits zero:

Next: Estimating The Minnesota Wild

Mar 19, 2015; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Winnipeg Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec (31) celebrates with teammate goalie Michael Hutchinson (34) after the overtime period at MTS Centre. Winnipeg Jets wins 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports

Winnipeg Jets:

The Jets were projected to finish dead last in the Central Division at the beginning of the year, but have silenced the majority as they continue their pursuit for their first playoff berth since moving from Atlanta.

Strength of remaining schedule: B+

Guess of outcome of final games:

vs. Capitals – L

@ Oilers – W

@ Canucks – L

vs. Canadiens – L

vs. Blackhawks – W

vs. Rangers – W

vs. Canucks – W

@ Wild – L

@ Blues – L (OT)

@ Avalanche – L (OT)

vs. Flames – W

That leaves them with a record of 5-4-2 over the rest of the season, giving them 96 points, which should be enough to finish off on a high note and possibly make the postseason.

Next: Estimating The Los Angeles Kings

Mar 16, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick (32) is congratulated by defenseman Drew Doughty (8) after the game against the Arizona Coyotes at Staples Center. The Kings defeated the Coyotes 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Kings:

The Los Angeles Kings have clearly not gotten over their Stanley Cup Championship hangover that began last June when they hoisted it for the second time in three years. Nonetheless, they are still putting together a good push, as are all the other teams in the race. But the Kings have an ace in the hole and that is that they are not out of the wild card or Pacific Division race. So while most of the other teams only have a real chance at making one of the wild card spots, the Kings have two options to exploit.

Strength of remaining schedule: B-

vs. Canucks – W

@ Devils – W

@ Rangers – L (OT)

@ Islanders – L

@ Wild – L

@ Blackhawks – L

vs. Oilers – W

vs. Avalanche – W

@ Canucks – L

@ Oilers – W

@ Flames – W

vs. Sharks – W

That leaves them with a 7-4-1 record through the remainder of the 14-15 season. With 97 points, it is almost positive that they will be able to claim one of the two chances they have at a postseason berth.

Next: Estimating The San Jose Sharks

Mar 19, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; San Jose Sharks center Logan Couture (39) is congratulated on his goal by defenseman Brent Burns (88) against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

San Jose Sharks:

The Sharks are on a bit of a tear recently, but may have some trouble finding the postseason this year. This would be the Sharks first time to miss the postseason since the 2002-2003 season, but their chances seem dim being six points out and a few teams to hop. The Sharks are in a very similar spot as the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars.

Strength of remaining schedule: B-

@ Canadiens – L

@ Senators – L (OT)

@ Red Wings – W

@ Flyers – W

@ Penguins – L

vs. Avalanche – L (OT)

vs. Coyotes – W

@ Coyotes – W

vs. Stars – W

@ Oilers – W

@ Kings – L

That leaves them with a final record of 6-3-2 with a total of 92 points. With the power in the West this season, it is highly unlikely that these numbers will get them to the playoffs. But remember, all of this is only speculation and guesstimating.

Next: Estimating the Colorado Avalanche

Mar 14, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov (1) makes a save in the second period against the Calgary Flames at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Colorado Avalanche:

The Colorado Avalanche have been carried largely by their goaltending in the past few weeks as they continue to string a streak together. Sadly, goaltending is not the only thing you need to make the playoffs and the Avs are a long way from being in the playoff discussion, just like the Stars and Sharks at this point.

Strength of remaining schedule: B-

@ Ducks – L (OT)

@ Flames – W

@ Oilers – W

@ Canucks – L

vs. Sabres – W

vs. Oilers – W

@ Sharks – W

@ Ducks – L

@ Kings – L (OT)

vs. Predators – W

vs. Jets – W

vs. Blackhawks – L

With a record of 7-3-2 and a total of 93 points, the playoff picture is very narrow for the Avalanche at this point, if not already shut off.

Next: Estimating The Dallas Stars

Mar 19, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars defenseman Patrik Nemeth (37) and right wing Brett Ritchie (25) and center Shawn Horcoff (10) celebrate Ritchie

Dallas Stars:

It seems as though the Dallas Stars still have a good chance in the playoff race, but in reality, it is basically diminished at this point.

Strength of remaining schedule: B+

vs. Blackhawks – L

vs. Sabres – W

@ Flames – L

@ Oilers – W

@ Canucks – L

vs. Flames – W

vs. Blues – W

@ Predators – L (OT)

@ Sharks – L (OT)

@ Ducks – W

vs. Predators – W

With a final record of 6-3-2, which is good enough for 90 points, it does not look like the Dallas Stars will be able to pull the playoff trigger this year. Now of course this is a guesstimate, so of course it could turn out better for the Stars, while it could also be worse. Either way, the Stars have just one too many hurdles to jump to get there. Too many inefficiencies at the beginning of the year caused them to start the “push” just a little too late in the year. In addition to that, all the teams in front of them have not budged an inch for Dallas in weeks, and they do not look to be doing so anytime soon.

Keep the faith and always stick next to your Dallas Stars, but this is just to prepare you for the final lap and what will most likely happen to the Stars playoff hopes.

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