Dallas Stars: Stanley Cup Playoff Hopes Depend On Colorado Avalanche

The Dallas Stars staved off elimination from the playoff race due to a few things on Saturday night. And while reality still looms largely over their fate, there is always a chance until mathematics kicks in.

I’m not here to tell you to start believing in the Dallas Stars and their race to the playoffs. But I’m also not here to write another sob story. Instead, I’m just here to present the facts.

The facts are that the Dallas Stars are still alive in the Stanley Cup Playoff race. Yes, their odds are at 0.2 percent and yes, an eight-game losing streak throughout March all but sealed the deal. The odds are narrow and it’d be smart to bank on them not going to the postseason dance.

But they are still alive, and that’s what matters for now.

After defeating the Minnesota Wild 4-1 last night in their home finale of the 2017-18 season, the Stars moved to 40-31-8 on the season. That’s 88 points in 79 games. It was an emphatic way to close out their home slate for the season as Dallas defeated a Central Division rival AND sidestepped elimination in the process.

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The fact of the matter is that the Stars only have three more games in their regular season campaign and must pick up all six of the final points available. One loss, whether it come in regulation, overtime, or shootout, will mathematically eliminate them from the playoff race. That doesn’t seem to be a good recipe for success for a team that hasn’t won back-to-back games since Feb. 8-9.

It gets even more disheartening when you think about the help that Dallas needs to receive on top of winning out. With Anaheim and St. Louis currently holding the final two wild card spots with 93 and 92 points respectively, one win for each team would also knock the Stars into an early offseason. So both of those teams need to lose out (or get a maximum of one point) in order for the Stars to make it. Considering each team has four games to go in the regular season, the odds aren’t likely.

But wait? Couldn’t one of those teams drop out and give Dallas an opening? Well, as it currently sets, no. And that’s due to one little outlier: the Colorado Avalanche.

The Avalanche sit just outside the Western Conference playoff picture right now with 92 points as well. They aren’t necessarily in the picture, but are still most certainly in the race. They also happen to sit just above the Stars.

And in the final week of the season (starting today), they will play both the Anaheim Ducks and St. Louis Blues. It’s imperative for the Stars’ playoff hopes that the Avs win both games (preferably in regulation). As a result, the Dallas Stars cannot make the Stanley Cup Playoffs without the Avalanche being included.

Colorado is fighting for their playoff lives as well and need to get an upper hand on St. Louis or Anaheim. They play the Ducks on Sunday night and finish their season on Saturday against the Blues.

It’s already clear that Anaheim and St. Louis need to lose out (or get one point at the most) over their final four games. But if they do that, they will both pick up a loss to Colorado, who would then have 96 points and be in a spot as a result.

If Colorado loses to one but beats the other, they would still be in the race above Dallas and knock the Stars out.

Next: Stars Player Power Rankings For Month Of March

Whether you believe in hockey miracles or not, the Dallas Stars are still in the playoff race. But if they are going to pull off the comeback of the century, the Avalanche will be one of the prime components in getting them there.

Mathematical elimination may very well be awaiting the Stars here in the next day or two. But there’s always a chance, right?

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