Dallas Stars Snag Two-Way Victory, Need To Keep Momentum
By Josh Clark
The Dallas Stars regained some lost ground Thursday night by fending off the Edmonton Oilers 3-2. It was an impressive win, and it helped the Stars in more than one way. If they can keep the momentum up, they have a chance at finding their way back to the top.
Finally. It seemed like it would never happen, but they found a way to pull it off last night. For the first time in the 2016 calendar year, the Dallas Stars won a game in regulation.
It may have been against the worst team in the Western Conference, but the Stars bounced back in a big way and beat the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 on home ice.
The win capped a four-game losing streak for Dallas that originated back on January 9th and snagged them two points in the standings. Prior to the victory, the Stars went winless on a three game road trip to the California coast. They lost a 4-2 bout with the Anaheim Ducks on Friday, could not pull out the overtime win in a 4-3 loss to San Jose on Saturday, and capped it off with a narrow 3-2 loss to the LA Kings on Tuesday.
But Thursday night was a new chance on home ice to snap one their second losing streak of the 2016 year, and they delivered. The offense was once again led by Jamie Benn and found its electricity, the defense was a reliable force, and the goaltending of Antti Niemi was superb.
To put it plainly, the Dallas Stars looked like their old selves again. But not only did their win tack two points onto their overall record, but it also scooted them closer to the top of the Central Division once again.
The Stars are now 30-13-5 with 65 points. That is good enough to keep them in second place in the Central Division and third place throughout the NHL. They sit eight points behind the Washington Capitals, who currently sit first place in the entire league. But they are only three points behind the Chicago Blackhawks for the lead in the Central Division.
It gets better. The Stars have two games in hand on the Chicago Blackhawks, which could result in as many as four points gained, putting them in the lead. The Hawks, previous winners of 12 straight, suffered their first loss since December 27th to the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight. The loss officially takes Chicago off their hot streak and surrenders a little bit of leverage to Dallas.
More stars: Dallas Stars' January Endeavors
The win over Edmonton also created a two-point gap between the Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues. Though it is a one-win gap, the Stars have two games in hand against the Blues as well. In other words, everything worked in the Stars favor tonight.
But all in all, the Dallas Stars are still second place in the division, which should not be happening. Tonight was step one in a hopeful revival to the top of the Central. It will not always work out like this, but the Stars can slowly and steadily climb back to their former rank.
The Stars next game comes against an opponent that they have not beaten since December 17, 2013: the Colorado Avalanche. It’s definitely going to be another big test for the Stars, and their adversity will need to be top-notch on Saturday night.
Next: Stars Earn First Regulation Win Of 2016 With Victory Over Oilers
After that, the Stars will host the Calgary Flames, a team that they have yet to best this season. Two prime opponents that give the Stars fits in their upcoming schedule. Tonight’s win was a nice taste of the good life after a three-week drought, and now is an excellent time to cover up their lost ground. Will they succeed?