The Dallas Stars’ regular season struggles seem to run through Denver more often than not. But if Dallas wants to take the next step, they must learn how to outdo the Colorado Avalanche while on the road.
There’s just something about the mile high air that keeps tripping up the Dallas Stars. Whatever that something is, the team needs to figure it out soon before its too late.
For a majority of the 2017-18 season so far, one of the Stars’ biggest struggles has been playing on the road in Denver. The Colorado Avalanche, like they have in many other seasons, seem to have Dallas’s number through the first 26 games of the season.
Last night, the Dallas Stars capped off an impressive 3-2 shootout victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. It was a win that came with many positives for the team.
The win capped off the Stars’ second straight W against the Hawks. They defeated Chicago 4-3 in overtime on Thursday night to kick off the home-and-home series. That’s two straight Central Division wins, which bumps the Stars’ Central record to 3-6-0 on the season. While there is still work to be done, it’s an improvement compared to a humbling 1-6-0 mark that they started with.
Dallas Stars
The victory also bumped Dallas up to a four-game win streak on the season. That ties for their longest streak this year and has helped the Stars to a 15-10-1 record. They sit in the first wild card spot and are within striking distance of the top spot in the Central Division.
And over these past few games, the Dallas Stars have looked like an entirely different team. They are finally showing their depth and speed on offense, playing with confidence on defense, and getting some solid showings from Ben Bishop in net. The team is starting to come together and is catching fire as a result.
But will this dominance continue tonight when the Stars visit Colorado for the third time this season?
The Stars have only beaten two of the five Central Division teams they have played against this season. One of those two teams is Colorado. But that win came in their first meeting with the Avs back on October 14 and happened at the AAC in Dallas.
Since then, the Stars have lost two straight against Colorado, both being on the road. In the two losses, Dallas has been outscored 8-3 and has struggled to find consistency in each game.
More From Blackout Dallas: What We Learned About The Stars In November 2017
But their biggest problem is the fact that these losses come at the heels of impressive win streaks.
The Stars’ first loss to Colorado on the road came in late October and halted a four-game win streak for Dallas. Their second loss in Denver came the day before Thanksgiving and cut off a two-game win streak that the Stars had jumpstarted at home in the games before.
More from Analysis
- Dallas Stars Traverse City Tournament: Who had great performances?
- Taking a look at the teams the Dallas Stars will be playing in the preseason
- Should the Dallas Stars revisit signing Patrick Kane this season?
- Realistic regular season stats for Dallas Stars Roope Hintz
- Realistic regular season stats for Dallas Stars Joe Pavelski
It’s a common thread when Dallas visits their Central Division rival. Since the 2014-15 season, the Dallas Stars are 2-7-0 at the Pepsi Center.
This is a Colorado team that posted one of the worst records in NHL history last season. They have bounced back in a big way but are still struggling to dig their way into the playoff picture. Still, they cannot be taken lightly. Dallas knows that.
Maybe it’s the thin air considering the Pepsi Center is almost 5,200 feet above sea level. Or maybe the Stars are just cursed when it comes to Colorado.
Either way, the Dallas Stars fight for continued consistency and their hunt for a five-game win streak will face a big challenge tonight. They are on the second game of a back-to-back and have already lost to Colorado once in this setting this season.
Next: Divisional Games Coming In Full Force At Stars
It will be yet another test for a Stars team that is still trying to prove themselves in their 2017-18 campaign. The Avalanche have been at home for over a week now and are trying to close out their homestand with a win.
Let’s see what the Stars are made of.