Dallas Stars: Evaluating Western Conference Playoff Race This Week

Pacific Division Race

While it may seem folly to worry about a division that the Dallas Stars are not associated with, the results of the Pacific could affect the Stars in significant ways.

There are a few teams within a handful of points of each other in the Pacific. This has led to a constant changing of the guard in the top three and in the wild card race. Different teams are catching hot and cold streaks and swapping positions.

With that being said, let’s look at the four teams Dallas should keep an eye on considering they themselves are currently in the wild card race with the rest of these teams.

San Jose Sharks

Games: 2 (3/8, 3/10)

Opponents: St. Louis Blues, Washington Capitals

While they aren’t a direct threat, the Sharks are dangerously close to falling out of their long-held second place spot in the Pacific. After winning on Sunday, the Ducks moved to just one point out of second. They are threatening the Sharks, as are the Kings who are two points behind. If the Sharks have an off week, they could quickly find themselves in the wild card race along with Dallas (who they have the same amount of points as).

The Stars do have something working in their favor, though. If the Sharks can pull out a win against St. Louis on Thursday, it could deal another severe blow to the Blues’ playoff hopes. Though they don’t carry a significant weight in the Stars’ world, go ahead and keep an eye on the Sharks just in case.

Anaheim Ducks

Games: 3 (3/6, 3/8, 3/9)

Opponents: Washington Capitals, Nashville Predators, Dallas Stars

The results of the Ducks’ games this week could make things very interesting in the Western Conference race.

After taking on a soaring Capitals team on Tuesday, the Ducks will lock in for matchups with the Predators and Stars. That’s two Central Division opponents currently locked in a tightly contested Central contest.

Just as they did on Saturday against St. Louis, the Stars will have another chance to pin a team behind them with this game against Anaheim. But while the Ducks and Kings scrap it out for third place in the Pacific, the Stars merely have to worry about themselves.

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Los  Angeles Kings

Games: 2 (3/8, 3/10)

Opponents: Washington Capitals, St. Louis Blues

The Kings sit directly behind the Stars, with a two point gap separating the two clubs. They also squad off with the Capitals and Blues this week (like San Jose).

Though the Stars have a game in hand on the Kings, that will disappear quickly by the end of the week. So the Stars need to make this one count.

Calgary Flames

Games: 4 (3/5, 3/7, 3/9. 3/11)

Opponents: Pittsburgh Penguins, Buffalo Sabres, Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders

The Islanders are in panic mode right now. The team has dropped six of its past eight games and now sits at the bottom of the playoff race in the West. There is still time to turn things around, but their postseason hopes are fading quickly.

Depending on how this week goes, the Flames could either potentially gain ground or be considered out of the race completely. And with a slate full of Eastern Conference teams, it could really go either way.