Dallas Stars: Evaluating Opponents In Western Conference Playoff Race
The Dallas Stars are nearing the end of the regular season and have four or five teams that they are still parrying with in the playoff race. With time winding down, do the Stars have what it takes to complete the push? Well, a lot of it will depend on what the teams around them do over the final games.
In 15 days, the Dallas Stars will close the book on their 2017-18 regular season. Whether they will play past that is anyone’s guess at this point, but one thing is for sure: the race is on.
As of Friday morning in the Western Conference, three teams sit comfortably ahead of the pack in their respective divisions. In addition to that, there are four teams sitting depressingly outside of the playoff race. But for those other eight teams, there’s nothing but a cluster.
There is currently ten points separating the first of these eight teams from the last. If you take out the Calgary Flames (who only have 80 points and have played the most games), there’s only a six-point spread.
And at the bottom of that spread sits the Dallas Stars with a record of 38-28-8. With their 84 points, the Stars currently sit four points out of both the first and second wild card spots. Here is a quick look at the wild card race in the West.
1. Colorado Avalanche 74 GP 88 PTS
2. Anaheim Ducks 74 GP 88 PTS
3. St. Louis Blues 73 GP 85 PTS
4. Dallas Stars 74 GP 84 PTS
As you can see, it’s not the ideal situation to be in with the season winding down. There are only eight games remaining in the Stars’ season and the clock is ticking quickly. At this rate, it looks as though Dallas will not only have to win at least six or seven of their games, but also get a little help along the way. While relying on other teams to keep your hopes afloat is a recipe for disaster, it’s about all that the Stars have left to rest their hope in.
Things have quickly taken a turn from bad to downright horrific for the Stars over the past two weeks. But there is no time to dwell on the ugly recent past. Dallas has to find a way to bounce back on home ice and salvage either their playoff hopes or at least something positive from this season before time runs out.
And yes, their playoff hopes are still alive. They may be slim, but the team still has a pulse. And just think, they aren’t in as bad of a position as Calgary is at the moment. So, that’s a plus.
But now is the time for action. It’s time to shape up or ship out, make or break, and win or go home.
As I mentioned above, the Stars are one of many teams still in a tight race spanning across both divisions. Let’s break this down.
Considering that the top three teams from each division make it into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, let’s go ahead and assume that Nashville and Winnipeg are locks for the Central. On the flip side, let’s say that Vegas and San Jose have their tickets punched in the Pacific. That leaves one spot open in each division (currently held by Minnesota in the Central and Los Angeles in the Pacific) and the two wild card spots. That’s not a lot of space to stand on, especially for the Stars who will need to gain ground before anything else.
So what are the Dallas Stars up against in this final stretch? And after covering them, what are the teams around them in the standings going up against? Will the other teams be challenged enough to where they miscue and give the Stars an opening? It doesn’t look that way at the moment, but anything is possible. All they have to do is outlast two of the teams listed above.
Let’s take a look at how each of those teams will close out their regular season slate.
The Central Division
At the moment, the Dallas Stars are at the bottom of Central Division competitors still mathematically in the playoff race. That’s not a good place to be, but things look a smidge better when you realize that only six points separate third place from sixth place. Still, with only 16 points still available for Dallas to pick up, the margin for error is slim.
Here is a look at what the Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche, and St. Louis Blues are doing over the final two weeks of the season.
Minnesota Wild
Record: 41-24-8
Points: 90
ROW: 38
Opponents: Nashville (3/24, 3/27), Boston (3/25), Dallas (3/29, 3/31), Edmonton (4/2), Anaheim (4/4), Los Angeles (4/5), San Jose (4/7)
The Wild have nine games to go and are 2-0-1 over the past week. They are keeping a stable hold on the third wild card spot but are still within striking distance. While it may be tough for Dallas to reach them, teams like Colorado could easily take a swing at them.
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Minnesota will take on five different playoff opponents in seven matchups over the final two weeks. It’s not the easiest schedule and has some pitfalls, but with the Wild clicking the way they are, it’s hard to see them falling to a five-point spread with only two weeks to go.
Still, the Stars will have a chance to complete a four-point swing with a home-and-home against Minnesota at the end of the month. If Dallas can go into that having won three straight games, they could find themselves significantly closer in the playoff race.
Colorado Avalanche
Record: 40-26-8
Points: 88
ROW: 39
Opponents: Vegas (3/24, 3/26), Philadelphia (3/28), Chicago (3/30), Anaheim (4/1), Los Angeles (4/2), San Jose (4/5), St. Louis (4/7)
The Avalanche dropped to a 7-1 beating at the hands of the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night, which only further complicated the Stars’ road to the postseason. They are tied for the first wild card spot with Anaheim right now and sit four points above Dallas with eight games to go.
Six of their eight games to close out the season are against playoff-caliber opponents, which could make for a tricky path. But if Nathan MacKinnon keeps his hot streak going, it may be hard to slow the Avs down enough to kick them out of either spot. Not to mention that they are only two points out of third in the Central.
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St. Louis Blues
Record: 40-28-5
Points: 85
ROW: 37
Opponents: Vancouver (3/23), Columbus (3/24), San Jose (3/27), Vegas (3/30), Arizona (3/31), Washington (4/2), Chicago (4/4, 4/6), Colorado (4/7)
The Blues arguably have the easiest schedule in this race in terms of Central Division teams. With only five of their final nine games being against playoff opponents, there is a chance that St. Louis, who has a game in hand on the final wild card spot and has won four of their past five games, could make a late jump into the playoff picture.
They could very well end up being the team that holds the Stars out of the playoff race after climbing back from where the Stars currently sit over the past two weeks. Look out for the Blues for sure.
Dallas Stars
Record: 38-28-8
Points: 84
ROW: 34
Opponents: Boston Bruins (3/23), Vancouver Canucks (3/25), Philadelphia Flyers (3/27), Minnesota Wild (3/29, 3/31), San Jose Sharks (4/3), Anaheim Ducks (4/6), Los Angeles Kings (4/7)
Just look at that schedule. That’s enough to make most teams go scurrying for cover.
The Dallas Stars will play seven of their final eight games against playoff opponents to close out the 2017-18 season. There’s a lot riding on these games as the Stars will likely need at least 96 or 97 points to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The home-and-home against Minnesota will be huge if the Stars can find a way to capitalize on the next three games.
They will have to do it without starting goaltender Ben Bishop, who is sidelined for the next week. The Stars will also have to pick up every precious point as possible at home, where they have been stellar this year.
But this team is one blowout loss away from not only burying their playoff hopes, but also turning in one of the most deflating ends to a season in a long time. That being said, it’s time to swing for the fences.
The Pacific Division
While the Dallas Stars are battling with a few different Central Division teams, the Pacific Division is still involved in the race as well.
The Stars have two (maybe three) Pacific clubs that they are still parrying with in the final two weeks of the year.
Here is what those three clubs are taking on over the final 15 days.
Los Angeles Kings
Record: 41-27-7
Points: 89
ROW: 39
Opponents: Edmonton (3/24), Calgary (3/26), Arizona (3/29), Anaheim (3/30), Colorado (4/2), Minnesota (4/5), Dallas (4/7)
It’s hard to see the Kings not making the Stanley Cup Playoffs at this point. They are 4-1-2 in their last seven games and seem to be on a tear. In addition to that, only three of their final seven games are against opponents currently holding a playoff spot. The Avalanche are arguably the most challenging team on their slate, and they had no trouble beating Colorado like a drum on Thursday night.
The Kings are known for making late season pushes and making noise in the playoffs, so watch for them come April.
Anaheim Ducks
Record: 38-24-12
Points: 88
ROW: 34
Opponents: Winnipeg (3/23), Edmonton (3/25), Vancouver (3/27), Los Angeles (3/30), Colorado (4/1), Minnesota (4/4), Dallas (4/6), Arizona (4/7)
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This one is tricky to predict. While the Ducks have won four straight by a combined score of 15-4, their final stretch includes some tough opposition, including the Jets, Kings, Avs, Wild, and potentially Stars.
If Anaheim cannot answer the bell when they reach a tough stretch, Dallas could find a way to slip over them. But if they can keep up their play as of late, they may lock down one of the playoff spots left along with LA. That would prove to be almost fatal to the Stars, considering they will likely need either the Ducks or Kings to drop out entirely.
Calgary Flames
Record: 35-30-10
Points: 80
ROW: 33
Opponents: San Jose (3/24), Los Angeles (3/26), Columbus (3/29), Edmonton (3/31), Arizona (4/3), Winnipeg (4/5), Vegas (4/7)
Though the Flames are still being included in playoff race diagrams, their luck is even worse off than the Stars. They have played more games than most of the teams in front of them and are two whole wins back of the Stars who are just above them. Calgary needs a good amount of help and cannot seem to get things right after dropping four in a row in regulation.
Combine that with them going up against five playoff teams down the stretch and you have what looks to be a recipe for disaster.
Next: Doing The Math In Stars' Uphill Battle To Playoffs
So there you have it. There’s all that the Dallas Stars will need to keep an eye out for over the next two weeks. But first and foremost, they will need to take care of themselves. After going 0-4-2 on their recent road trip, there is no more time to delay. Something has to change and it has to start tonight against a very good Boston Bruins team.
Let’s see if they have anything left in the tank.