Dallas Stars Have Tough Race Against St. Louis Blues
By Josh Clark
The Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues are duking it out for first in the Central Division. What does the road ahead look like for each team?
As the clock draws closer to midnight on an eventful 2015-2016 NHL regular season, it is clear that things are growing tighter with each passing day. It just doesn’t get any less stressful when you’re a Dallas Stars fan, does it?
The Stars are currently locked in an intense battle with the St. Louis Blues for the first place spot in the Central Division and, consequently, the Western Conference as a whole. Both teams have already clenched playoff spots, but the fight for seeding rages on.
As the playoffs near, the Western Conference is down to a six-team race, with only four spots in the postseason remaining up for grabs. As teams below these two juggernauts furiously scrap for those final spots, there is just as heated of a battle going on just above them.
The Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues sit tangled together at 99 points a piece. Not only that, but they have identical records of 45-22-9. Both have just six games remaining on their schedule, and both have playoff spots locked in. If each can win at least three games, they will for sure finish in the top three in the Central.
The only thing separating them right now is the number of ROW’s (regulation/overtime wins). The Stars have the current advantage with 43 ROW’s to the Blues’ 40. This is the first tiebreaker that the NHL refers to when two teams have the same point totals at the end of the year.
At this point, it looks like that may be what it comes down to between the Stars and Blues once the season is all said and done. The two teams both secured victories yesterday over top-tier teams, once again making things even tighter as the season winds down to an end.
So who will eventually come out on top? Will the Stars continue to keep a grip on first and add a banner to the long-awaiting rafters of the AAC? Or will the Blues sneak into first and face off with a wild card team to start the playoffs?
With the way this season has gone, there is no use in trying to predict this race. It seems as though throughout this season, when you expect one thing to happen, the exact opposite ends up occurring. I guess that’s what makes the NHL fun. It’s unexpected possibilities give off the addiction that forces bigger audiences to tune in every night.
That being said, the most we can do is just look at the facts and try to decipher our own conclusions from there.
Here are the paths for both teams over the next two weeks as the 15-16 season comes to a close.
Dallas Stars
76 GP, 45-22-9, 99 pts, 43 ROW
Game 77: vs. Nashville Predators (2-1-0)
Game 78: vs. Arizona Coyotes (0-2-0)
Game 79: @ Los Angeles Kings (0-2-0)
Game 80: @ Anaheim Ducks (1-1-0)
Game 81: vs. Colorado (1-2-0)
Game 82: vs. Nashville Predators (2-1-0)
On the bright side: The Dallas Stars are on a roll right now. Even in some of the toughest times missing the services of Tyler Seguin, Jason Demers, and Kris Russell all at the same time, the Stars are still finding ways to soar and succeed. They are 4-1-0 in their last five games, and all four wins were against playoff-bound teams.
The Stars are definitely showing off their depth and proving their legitimacy and eagerness to get back to the postseason. If they can continue their streak that they have built up throughout March, they should have no problem in securing the Central Division title.
On the less bright side: Just look at the Stars’ current records against their upcoming opponents. They face off against teams that they have been relatively unsuccessful against this year. Things are tough for Dallas when looking at the schedule.
Though they have proven that they can overcome odds, these next few games are crucial. They will once again have to prove that they are up for the challenge if they want to carry a consistent and dependable reputation into the postseason.
St. Louis Blues
76 GP, 45-22-9, 99 pts, 40 ROW
Game 77: vs. Colorado Avalanche (0-1-2)
Game 78: vs. Boston Bruins (1-0-0)
Game 79: @ Colorado Avalanche (0-1-2)
Game 80: vs. Arizona Coyotes (2-0-0)
Game 81: @ Chicago Blackhawks (2-2-0)
Game 82: vs. Washington Capitals (1-0-0)
On the bright side: The St. Louis Blues are piecing together a dramatic, even potentially record-breaking end to their season. The Blues have currently beaten four straight teams (Canucks twice, Sharks, Capitals) in shutout fashion. They have gone over 240 minutes of play without allowing a goal. The longest NHL streak in a single season is six. It was set by the Ottawa Senators back in 1928.
If the Blues can continue their dominating streak, it will be very difficult for the Stars to keep up with them, especially when comparing the schedules. The Blues are not only a tough team to beat, but a tough team to even get a goal against. If that holds up, St. Louis might have the division banner locked up.
On the less bright side: The ROW’s are still in favor of the Stars. Though it may not seem like a crucial factor or statistic, it very much can be. For example, let’s say that both Dallas and St. Louis win four of their last six contests. Even if the Blues win all four in regulation and the Stars win two of the four in overtime or the shootout, the Stars still take the Central Division title.
More stars: It's Okay If The Stars Lose A Couple Games Coming Up
It may not even end up playing into the final results, but if it does the Stars are in good company.
This is definitely going to be an enticing and exciting race to keep a stern eye on throughout the rest of the season. The Dallas Stars have proven that they will not go quietly in evacuating first place, and the Blues have shown that they will not quit their pursuit. It will all come down to who wants it more.
Next: Stars Swim Past Sharks, Win 4-2
And you know what the coolest part is? Once this race is over, an even more important and exciting one begins. The Stanley Cup Playoff race is going to be one for the books this year. So grab your popcorn, Dallas Stars fans. It’s sure to be an entertaining ride.