Dallas Stars: Time To Level Up Again In Playoff Race

And just like that, your Dallas Stars are a top three team. But it’s true what they say- the air is always a bit thinner at the top.

The Stars stayed in it to win it last night and their prize was not only a win against the rival Blues, but the third place in the Central Division. Their performance really was that of a top-tier team, a collaboration of players who are really working hard to take their team to the next level.

So in many ways, this is a milestone for Dallas. It points back to the bold and exuberant team that topped out the Central Division (and the whole Western Conference) in 2016. Since then, the Stars haven’t really seemed able to hack their division. Signs could be pointing to some change, but perhaps not all of it is going to pave an easier way for Dallas.

The season that the Stars won their Division and Conference was like a precursor for the identity the Stars have been trying to build up to, And although they did well against their divisional rivals that season, the Stars failed to make it past the Blues in the second round of playoffs. That Stars team had the excitement, but lacked the maturity.

This time around, the Stars have worked on their legs to go the distance. Their performances are much less in frenetic spurts like previous season, and more in solid and consistent effort. And when the effort fails, these Stars players jump right back in without excuses.

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Although moving up in the Central Division marks a growth in maturity, stamina, and mindset for this team, it’s also going to spell out a harder path to the top for them.

Isn’t that how it always is? Coasting by with just good enough is, well, just good enough. And pretty easy, too. The Stars are about to find out all about the road less traveled.

Sitting now at third in the division and fourth in the conference, the Stars have more difficult opponents ahead of them than any they left in the dust. While a victory over the Blues shouldn’t be brushed off lightly (they’ve butted heads with much worse outcomes over and over), it can’t be a victory celebrated for too long.

Let’s not forget that the Stars overtook the Blues with the same number of points, but with less games played. The Blues could swipe that spot back at any time if the Stars lighten up or slow down. What’s more, Nashville and Winnipeg are both five points ahead of the Stars, with Nashville at two less games than the Stars. And of course, you can’t forget the Vegas Golden Knights, who reign supreme over the conference with 80 points.

When Hitch came aboard this summer, he said that he wanted to return the Stars to their Western-winning, 15-16 season selves. While they’re on track to it, I think this fate may not be theirs this season. And of course, since conference and divisional standings don’t predict who hoists the Cup, it’s not all that matters.

Dallas Stars

And for the Stars, it seems like they’ve decided that they don’t want to settle. Another sign of maturity is settling in for the long haul, evaluating goals, and putting in work that gets you closer to them. While the Stars’ actions have been telling us that they’re working toward a win, a conference or divisional one isn’t their endgame.

Let’s be honest, too. With some of the contenders ahead of them in the standings, the Stars aren’t likely to jet to the very top. But the discipline and commitment that’s kept them steady plodding upward are the same virtues that keep a team in a difficult playoff run, and the same virtues that have prevented a lacking, former Stars team from just that thing.

If you need examples of the stick-to-it-tive-ness I’m talking about, look at Ben Bishop, whohad an off night but bounced back for the Blues victory. At Marc Methot, who has been out with injuries and babies and the whole nine yards, but jumps into any game he can with vigor and makes his presence valuable. At all of our amazing defensemen who have stepped up and have mastered not only what was once the shaky art of Stars defense, but are also contributing to production on a regular basis.

I’ve raved before about all of this, really- how the Stars’ competitiveness as a team is coming from the separate parts of the whole team buckling down and playing their role. From the Stars truly becoming a well-oiled machine.

Clearly, it’s paid off. The Stars have progressed to a spot that hasn’t been in their sights for a while. But that progression doesn’t mean that ultimate victory or even continued progression is assured. The Stars could backslide and lose all of that in a heartbeat. What it does mean, though, is that the Stars have leveled up in so many ways this season. And this next step means it’s time for them to level up once again.

Their actions have told us, and the league, that they’re ready to play higher stakes hockey. Now, their actions from this point forward have to prove their ability to do it and succeed at it. And they’ll get their chance to put their money where their mouth is.

Next: What Should The Stars Focus On At Trade Deadline?

From here, the Stars will go on the road and will take on six playoff contenders in a row. This is a critical stretch for the Stars. If they want to run with the big dogs, they’ve got their chance.

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