The Dallas Stars have the playoffs in sight. They’re fighting tooth and nail to get there — or at least they should be. With their back-and-forth play of late, it’s hard to determine if the Stars are really fighting at all.
When in doubt, use the media to call out players is a risky, but sometimes beneficial way to get them to improve. Ken Hitchcock took a stab at just that after yesterday’s 3-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins:
"It starts with our top players. Our top players look at times like they're waiting to go on the power play." https://t.co/8nESFlhrz8
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) March 12, 2018
What his exact motive behind calling guys out for “waiting to go on the power play” can’t be certain without explanation from Hitch himself; however, it’s fair to assume that he’s expecting more from the the top players on the team.
It’s no secret that Jamie Benn has struggled offensively of late, which is the worst case for the Stars being that teams have tightened up defensively for the final stretch. Right now, if the Stars surrender the first goal, the opposition knows to shut down defensively and attempt to increase their lead only when it makes sense.
That doesn’t bode well for a Dallas club that is almost all of a sudden having issues putting pucks in the net.
Comeback Kings?
Although the Stars have been the benefactors of some late-game comebacks, third period heroics aren’t on the menu every night. They take a lot out of players and create unnecessary risks that ultimately dismantle the system.
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That, however, isn’t to say that the extra points aren’t appreciated, it’s just that waiting until the final minutes of the third period to go all-in isn’t going to work all the time. Ultimately, the Stars don’t have the luxury of taking that approach every game when the standings are so tight and every point is significant.
Moving Forward
The final games of the regular season will be an uphill battle for the Dallas Stars. There’s no doubt that they’ll be playing injured, tired and mentally exhausted until the postseason match-ups are set. Then, they’ll hopefully do it all again as the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin.
Next: Dallas Stars' Guide to Road Trip Success
It’s a whirlwind of emotions and the Stars are trying to find their groove. The plan is to get back on the grind as soon as possible because this team should be making a return to the postseason.