The Dallas Stars hit the road for the first time this season earlier this week, and it didn’t go as desired. They came up empty handed with a record of .500 after their two-game stint, but it’s no reason to worry.
It’s no secret that the Dallas Stars struggled on their first road trip of the 2018-19 season. While their first outing as a team this year ended up with them losing games two nights in a row and only scoring one goal, there are a few reasons why losing hope about this club is far too premature.
Two Games
It was literally two games. Yes, it sucks to lose a back-to-back on the debut road trip of the season. It’s not great to score the first goal and lose. It’s unfortunate to score one goal during 60 minutes of hockey.
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None of those things are something to cheer about; however, it’s hard to say that all hope is lost a mere six games into the season. Since it is only the middle of October, it would be a disservice to draw any sort of conclusion that this type of road play will continue for the remainder of the season.
Moreover, it’s unfair to assume that the Stars can’t fix what is obviously broken. Give them the time to do that.
Adversity is Good
Nothing about the NHL is easy. Scoring, games, and hits are all hard no matter how you cut it. Each team goes through something — whether it be a series of injuries or a losing streak — that tests their ability to perform.
Of course, two losses on the road doesn’t qualify as adversity, but it’s definitely something Dallas has to overcome. They might head into their next road challenge with the mindset that they can’t win on the road. When the faith is lost, that’s when it’s time to worry.
However, we’re far from that position right now. They’re working out the kinks and preparing to weather whatever storm of adversity is coming their way.
They’re Professionals
Hockey is their full-time job. They skate, play, and practice for a living, and work-related things don’t always go as planned. The NHL is no different.
Obviously, they didn’t get the result they desired on the trip — it doesn’t take a genius to see that. However, it’s important to remember that it’s quite literally their job to fix it. It’s their responsibility to do better as players and coaches alike in order to achieve more the next time they hit the ice in white sweaters.
That won’t come easy, though. Like anything, it’s a process and there’s going to be a learning curve to the system Jim Montgomery has put in place. Just let them do their job, and give them the time and space to make corrections as needed. Also breathe, because it’s only six games in, and there’s a lot of hockey left to be played.