The last month has been predominantly loaded with home games for the Dallas Stars. But for the next 10 days, their focus shifts to the road. This upcoming five-game trip presents an opportunity to build on their composure away from home and further their winning reputation. It won’t be an easy journey, though.
The Dallas Stars own one of the best home records of any team in the NHL this season. In fact, only the Tampa Bay Lightning and Winnipeg Jets (two of the top three teams in the league standings) currently boast more home wins.
It’s been a good year at the American Airlines Center. The Stars are 18-8-2 through 28 home games this season and have picked up 38 of their 60 total points under the AAC’s roof. They have won their past four home contests and are 7-3-1 in their last 11. Simply put: home ice is a major strength for this 2018-19 Stars club.
But for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. With that being said, the Dallas Stars have endured their fair share of inconsistencies when playing away from home this season.
Through 53 games, the Stars own a mark of 10-13-2 when playing on the road. That total has them tied with the Los Angeles Kings for the least road wins in the Western Conference. It’s also 22 of a possible 50 points, leaving Dallas with an urge and need to improve.
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They have taken steps in the right direction over the past few months, though. After starting their 2018-19 road campaign on an 0-3-0 note, the Stars have won four of their past six away games. That includes an impressive 3-1 win over the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena this past Saturday. The victory is part of a five-game win streak currently owned by Dallas that has the team sitting third in the Central division and in position to make a strong surge to the postseason.
But, through their impressive streak over the past few weeks, there has been one common theme: home ice. 13 of the Stars’ past 18 games have taken place at the AAC. After a particularly road-heavy schedule from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15, Dallas headed home for an extensive stretch. They used that time to get back on a winning track, work through various kinks in their game, and generate significant momentum going into the final stretch of the year.
It’s worked so far, with Dallas building their longest win streak of the season. But now that surge will be tested in a 10-day stretch away from home.
Dallas will kick off a five-game road trip on Thursday night in Nashville as they face the Predators for the third time at Bridgestone Arena and fourth time this season. It’s a chance for the Stars to grapple for playoff positioning and continue trying to stake their claim in a competitive Central division. But it’s also a chance to continue building consistency on the road. After all, Dallas owns the worst away record of any team sitting in the top three in their respective division.
Protecting and building on their five-game win streak is important, but the Dallas Stars need to use this swing to get their performance on the road to a consistently impressive level.
This is the longest remaining road trip in the Stars’ 2018-19 regular season schedule. Following this, Dallas has a four-game swing at the end of February and another four-game trip at the end of March. Other than that, there’s a short two-game trip in the middle of March and a single visit to Chicago in the second-to-last game of the season.
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So, this trip presents an intriguing challenge and opportunity to the Dallas Stars. Last year, they crumbled during a six-game road trip in the second half of the season, posting a record of 0-4-2. The failed trip all but buried the club’s hopes of securing a postseason spot and contributed to their untimely downfall at the worst time of the year.
And though it may not seem like it at the moment with all of the positivity floating around the team, a playoff berth is far from guaranteed. 29 games remain in the season and there are still plenty of teams in the Western Conference postseason race. Trades will happen, teams will fall, teams will surge, and both winning and losing streaks will be built across the NHL.
At the moment, the Stars are in control of their own destiny. This win streak has provided them with a slight cushion, and it’s up to them to continue in making it sturdier. That all begins with the road trip at hand.
All playoff-caliber teams know how to play and succeed on the road. The Dallas Stars are getting better in that regard, but there is still work to be done.
These next five games are a chance to improve on a weakness and continue surging in the playoff chase.
Let’s take a look at what the Stars are heading into over the next 10 days.