The Dallas Stars are back home for a five-game homestand after closing out their California road trip on Thursday. They kick things off tonight against the Winnipeg Jets. This game will help paint a legitimate picture of just how far the Stars have come and where they are headed.
At 6 p.m. tonight, the Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets will square off at the American Airlines Center. Both teams are currently fighting for position in the Central Division playoff picture and tonight’s results could go a long way in shifting the landscape.
Had you read this back in August or September, you probably would have chopped it up as fake news. The Jets were coming off of another season without reaching the playoffs (which marked the ninth time in the last ten years). In addition to that, they made no significant offseason moves and looked to be in store for another year of mediocrity.
And on the other hand, no one knew what to think of the Dallas Stars. After posting one of the worst seasons in franchise history in 2016-17, the Stars had a massive roster overhaul in the summer that afforded them new talent and depth. But as they entered the season, it was unclear of how much change would actually occur. In other words, it seemed just as likely that Dallas would finish first in the division as it did them finishing in fifth or sixth.
Both teams now find themselves in the top four of the Central with a chance to gain ground. Winnipeg sits in second with 81 points through 61 games, while Dallas sits just one point back of third place with 74 points in the same number of games. It’s funny how quickly predictions can go wrong.
Dallas Stars
But here we are. There’s 21 games left in the season, the playoff race is still tight, and every point is crucial for both of these teams. However, this game is not important solely for its affect on the playoff standings. It’s also important because it will prove to be a perfect “measuring stick” game for the Stars.
This game is challenging for Dallas in a few different ways.
For example, the Jets are the only Central Division team that the Stars have not defeated this season. They are 0-2-0 in the series and have been outscored 9-3. But they also haven’t played Winnipeg since early November, and it’s safe to say that Dallas has become a much better team since then. There is also a chance that Winnipeg has become better too, though. It will be up to the Stars to prove that they can run with every Central Division team in tonight’s game.
Tonight’s game will help paint a clear picture of just how far the Dallas Stars have come since early November. It will also give an honest outlook at where they are going.
This game might also be a playoff preview. Considering that the Nashville Predators are running away with first place in the Central, Winnipeg will likely finish in second. And if Dallas keeps up their current pace of play, third place could very well be their landing spot, which would plot them against the Jets in the first round.
If the Stars cannot go toe-to-toe with Winnipeg tonight, will the playoffs be the same way?
On another note, this game will once again test the Stars’ ability to answer a challenge. The Minnesota Wild won on Friday night and pushed themselves back into third place in the division. A win tonight will help Dallas reclaim that position and get away from the playoff wall.
This game is important in a lot of ways. The Dallas Stars will finally get a chance to see just how well they stack up with a potential first-round matchup. It will also test their ability to once again respond to a challenge. They did well in responding on Thursday at LA, but can they do it again?
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This will by all means be a measuring stick game for the Stars. It will show just where the team is at the moment and realistically pinpoint how this season could turn out. That being said, the game promises to be a good one.
Kari Lehtonen is the projected starter and the puck drops at 6 p.m. Make sure to show up or tune in.