Dallas Stars Have Fallen Victim To Ebb And Flows Of NHL Season

DALLAS, TX - DECEMBER 9: Ken Hitchcock, head coach of the Dallas Stars watches the action from the bench against the Vegas Golden Knights at the American Airlines Center on December 9, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - DECEMBER 9: Ken Hitchcock, head coach of the Dallas Stars watches the action from the bench against the Vegas Golden Knights at the American Airlines Center on December 9, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images)

Following their impressive five-game winning streak, the Dallas Stars have been losers of three straight. This, however, is just a byproduct of an NHL season.

While it isn’t ideal, the Dallas Stars find themselves in a losing streak just after their best winning streak in years.

It’s not encouraging to say the least, but it just happens to be part of playing in a league like the NHL.

Wake-up call

The Stars were on a high when they were seemingly unbeatable. They celebrated their golden laces – which were worn on the first night of their streak to commemorate Jere Lehtinen’s retirement. They embraced their system, and the confidence they had on the ice translated to win after win.

Now, they’re in the opposite situation. They lack their system’s structure and their confidence is at a seemingly all time low.

More from Analysis

However, it should simply serve as the wake-up call they need to turn things around. Dallas is, for the first time this season, able to see how they aren’t invincible. They too can lose three straight after winning five in a row. They are just like any team in the league because they’re all competitive.

Ken Hitchcock runs a structured locker room. And whether or not you agree with his style of play or the system he’s put in place, it’s what has become Dallas Stars hockey. It’s what they have to work with moving forward. It’s ultimately what will get them moving in the right direction yet again. This is just a slap in the face to right the ship.

Motivation

Along the same lines, the Stars can see that they need to be motivated for each and every game if they want to give themselves the best chance to win.

That means following the disciplined schedules they’ve all set for themselves in preparation for puck drop. That means taking each opponent seriously, regardless of their record. That means ignoring the standings and simply seeing the players on the other team as a team to beat, not a shoe-in win for the team wearing Victory Green.

Next: Dallas Stars' Dickinson Will Play

It’s a challenge to stay motivated for the duration of an 82-game season. That is undeniable. However, it’s not something that should hinder Dallas’ success in their next game. They might have lost their motivation over the last few games – especially following up a great streak – but they have to dig deep to find it again and get on the right track.