Dallas Stars’ Upcoming Schedule Leaves No Room for Error
With the standings as tight as they are in the Western Conference, it’s no wonder the Dallas Stars are playing the way they have been of late. Their demanding schedule leaves no room for error, and neither does the league.
The Dallas Stars are playing their third game in four days this afternoon. That span includes a trip to Chicago, a 3:30 a.m. arrival back to Dallas before playing the defending champions and an afternoon match-up today.
The NHL’s 82-game schedule is no joke, and the Dallas Stars are seeing just that. While their winning streak is encouraging and fun to watch, their scheduling will take a toll.
Physical Strain
Of course, when playing a game as physical as hockey, players will inevitably get tired. Their bodies will begin to wear down as the season progresses, and with three games in four days it’s certainly the case for the Stars.
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Hits, fights and blocking shots can only cause wear and tear to the players, but it’s all for the sake of the game. Dallas needs to focus on staying as healthy as possible — which notably includes rotating players in and out of the line-up.
Any aches and pains now could turn into bigger issues down the line. With the Stars’ eyes set on a return to the playoff picture, letting small injuries grow is not on the list of things to do.
Mentally Taxing
Hockey is arguably as much of a physical game as it is mental. Players are constantly having to respond to what the opposition is doing, all while making split-second decisions. Not to mention the necessity of keeping your head on a swivel to ensure that players in your defensive zone are where you believe them to be.
Systems are detailed and often hard to adjust to — just ask Jason Spezza — which also adds to the mental component of hockey. On top of the physical ailment players endure throughout the season, focusing on the task at hand is often made that much more challenging.
Not to mention that Ken Hitchcock demands a lot from his players. He has transformed the Stars into a team that barely resembles the offense first team under Lindy Ruff. Heck, he has Tyler Seguin of all people killing penalties and doing it well. While it’s proven to work rather well this season, there’s absolutely a lot of energy going into the mental side of the game for the Stars.
Eye on the Prize
Despite all of the hardships that accompany an 82-game season, the Dallas Stars are focused on the end game. They want to not only return to the Stanley Cup playoffs, but be legitimate contenders for the cup. That requires no shortage of dedication, regardless of how difficult their schedule has been lately.
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Ultimately, they will continue to power through and play a Dallas Stars brand of hockey that will hopefully translate into a successful postseason. Until then, it’s going to be a grind.