Dallas Stars: Examining Their Competition In Stanley Cup Playoff Race

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ST. LOUIS, MO – MARCH 02: Dallas Stars leftwing Jamie Benn (14) and St. Louis Blues leftwing Jaden Schwartz (17) go after a loose puck during an NHL game between the Dallas Stars and the St. Louis Blues on March 02, 2019, at Energizer Center, St. Louis, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Blues’ Final Stretch

Record: 42-28-8, 92 points, 41 ROW

Current position: Third place in Central division

Playoff odds (via Sports Club Stats): CLINCHED

Around two months ago, the St. Louis Blues looked to be left for dead. They sat at the bottom of the Central division and watched as the gap between them and a playoff spot grew bigger by the day. They had spent the first half of the regular season firing their head coach and bringing in an interim, quickly losing faith in starting goaltender Jake Allen, and falling well short of the preseason expectations that had been set for them.

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But then, the turnaround occurred. And, unlike most turnarounds in the NHL that involve a five-game win streak over two weeks, this one was much more influential.

From January 23 to February 20, the Blues didn’t lose a game. That translates to 11 consecutive victories.

Their offense turned a corner, the defense shored up some of its inconsistencies, and the goaltending of rookie Jordan Binnington helped the Blues skyrocket. They escaped the Western Conference cellar and quickly pushed themselves back into the playoff race.

For the past month, the Stars and Blues have battled for third place in the division. Dallas is 2-0-0 against St. Louis since Feb. 21 and finished their season series with a 3-1-0 advantage, but the Blues still hold third place as of March 19.

At the moment, a playoff berth seems almost absolute for the Blues. Their odds hover around 99 percent in most simulations and it would take a catastrophic meltdown (we’re talking losing at least seven of their final ten games) to not even claim a wild card spot.

Here’s how the final stretch maps out for St. Louis.

4/1 vs. Colorado, 4/3 @ Chicago, 4/4 vs. Philadelphia, 4/6 vs. Vancouver

According to Power Rankings Guru, the Blues have the second-easiest strength of schedule remaining. With only two of their final ten opponents currently holding playoff spots, it looks as though St. Louis is all but set for a trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

But where will they end up in the picture? That’s a debate for another day.

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