Dallas Stars Pressuring Themselves Can Lead To Positive Results

After dropping a 4-2 loss to the struggling Montreal Canadiens, the Dallas Stars slipped closer to the playoff wall. As unnecessary as it may seem, the pressure that Dallas has brought upon themselves could lead to positive results.

It’s not a result that the Dallas Stars wanted or needed, but they got it.

On Tuesday night, the Stars dropped their second consecutive game of the road trip. This one ended up as a 4-2 decision against the struggling and broken Montreal Canadiens. The Habs were missing a good number of their top stars and have been out of the playoff mix for a while, but that didn’t seem to stop them in any way. Montreal cashed in on three different power play opportunities and buried Dallas in the second period with two goals in 35 seconds on their way to the victory.

The Stars are now 0-2-0 on the six-game road trip that could very well determine how their season pans out. They have come out on the losing end in four of their past five games and just cannot seem to get it together.

That’s frustrating for the team, especially considering the success they have seen this season. From winning five games in a row in multiple stretches to being one of the best defensive units in the league, they own an impressive track record throughout this year and know that they can be a powerful team.

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But the past doesn’t matter, especially not during the playoff push. The Dallas Stars are in need of success right now and they cannot find it. And with the playoff push being as tight as it is in the Western Conference, this lack of progress is starting to hurt the team.

After last night’s loss, the Stars fell out of the first wild card spot. It’s their first time being outside the top wild card spot or higher in over a month, and it just goes to show that something has to change and quickly. Dallas is only three points ahead of three teams below them that are also clawing for the final spot in the postseason. With that being said, there is little to no room for error.

But there really isn’t much more that can be said. We can sit here and talk about the problems flanking the Dallas Stars, such as a lack of offensive structure and depth, until we are blue in the face. But what it all boils down to is that the Stars got themselves into this mess and now they have to get themselves out of it. That can be a good thing, though.

Sure, it would be much more ideal for Dallas to be in third place in the Central Division or even be solidified in the first wild card spot right now. But being in a situation like this can help by showing a team what it is truly made of. The Stars can’t just coast their way to the playoffs; they have to show their true colors to the rest of the league now. That may be a problem, or it may help Dallas reach new heights.

At the moment, the Dallas Stars are still in a playoff spot. They own a two-point lead on the next closest foe in the race and still have time to turn things around. But there’s no more time for slipping and faltering.

Now is the time for Dallas to take a look in the mirror and produce a quick turnaround. Now is the time to wipe out their offensive inefficiencies, reassert their discipline, and play the perfect game, as Jamie Benn said following last night’s game.

This is a great opportunity for the Stars if they can take it by the horns. They officially aren’t comfy in the first wild card spot anymore. Instead, they are at the wall and are one loss away from being potentially overrun. That needs to be used as motivation in each of the final 12 games.

Next: Stars Have Great Opportunity To Fix Offensive Woes

The saying goes that “pressure makes diamonds.” The Stars are now under a great deal of pressure and have a tough schedule to close out this season. Nothing less than a stellar effort will get them to the postseason at this point. It all starts tonight with a tired Dallas group going up against a Toronto team that has won ten straight at home.

Can the Stars make diamonds out of this situation? Or are they destined to experience a monumental drop-off that won’t soon be forgotten?