Dallas Stars Receiving Different Sparks From Lineup In Playoff Race
Throughout the past few weeks, the Dallas Stars have navigated a crowded Western Conference playoff race. And with each passing game, they are getting new sparks from up and down their lineup. That’s an important quality for playoff teams to possess.
It’s been 365 days since the Dallas Stars wrapped up a winless six-game road trip against the Washington Capitals.
After skidding through the first five games and watching their playoff hopes slip from “probable” to “in serious question,” the Stars sunk into full desperation mode. And though they battled to stay afloat in the final game of the swing in D.C., they dropped a narrow 4-3 loss to end the trip.
In many ways, that game against Washington highlighted the Stars’ biggest flaw: a lack of depth scoring.
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After GM Jim Nill stood pat at the 2018 NHL Trade Deadline, the Dallas Stars fell into a 4-8-4 slump in the final month of the season and watched their playoff odds evaporate entirely. And while an injury to starting goaltender Ben Bishop in the early part of March created a sizable obstacle, the team’s one-dimensional offense served as an even bigger hindrance.
In the loss to the Capitals, Dallas tallied three goals. Those three goals came entirely from the Stars’ top line, with Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, and Alexander Radulov each netting one.
And that’s where the Stars’ problems arose. Throughout most of the 2017-18 regular season, it seemed as though Benn, Seguin, and Radulov were the only forwards that could score on a regular basis. With the top line serving as their only scoring threat, the month of March served as the Stars’ undoing as the trio was overtaxed in the homestretch and couldn’t carry the load.
On Tuesday night, that trio once again carried the load for the Stars as they defeated the Florida Panthers 4-2. But this time around, the result of the game didn’t further bury the Stars’ hopes of qualifying for the postseason; instead, it boosted their playoff odds to 96.2 percent.
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What changed?
Well, a lot of things did. For one, the Dallas Stars hired new head coach Jim Montgomery in the 2018 offseason. In addition, they added a handful of new players to the lineup via free agency and their farm system. To top it all off, they successfully navigated the first 72 games of their 2018-19 campaign and managed to hold sole control of the first wild card spot in the Western Conference going into Tuesday’s game.
But the race was far from over. Dallas had dropped the first two games of a five-game homestand and had slowly inched closer to the playoff wall. So, there was another critical need for two points as the Panthers arrived.
The game didn’t start out on the most encouraging note, either. The Stars gave up an early goal in the first period that not only halted Ben Bishop’s shutout streak, but also required yet another comeback effort from Dallas. It was the third straight contest where the Stars had given up a goal in the first 150 seconds of action.
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But the Stars clawed back. And though there was some back-and-forth involved, the Stars prevailed in the 4-2 final. That came from the efforts of their big guns.
Tyler Seguin had four assists. Jamie Benn finished with a goal and two assists. Alexander Radulov turned in two goals and an assist. John Klingberg scored a goal as well.
And just like that, the Dallas Stars used their top names to get the job done. The performance helped them get back on track and provided a boost in their final sprint to the playoffs.
But what’s even more impressive is how the Stars are boosting themselves.
Tuesday night served as the first time that Benn, Seguin, and Radulov all tallied a point on a goal since Feb. 4 against the Arizona Coyotes. That’s over six weeks since the “big three” was last responsible for a goal. So, what does that mean?
For one, it points to the fact that Montgomery isn’t afraid to break up his top unit. In fact, the Stars didn’t even start Tuesday’s game with Benn, Seguin, and Radulov paired together. But, after the slow start, he shuffled his lines and pinned the trio together on the top line. The rest is history.
It goes to show that the Dallas Stars can win games at the most important time of the year, regardless of whether their top line is paired together or not.
Throughout the past few games, the Stars are seeing different sparks from throughout their lineup. Two weeks ago, Ben Bishop led the charge and John Klingberg tacked on a goal in a 1-0 shutout victory. Two nights later, Alexander Radulov took over with his first career hat trick.
Last week, Roope Hintz and Bishop combined to lead Dallas to a 2-0 victory over the Sabres. Against the Wild, it was Hintz, Radek Faksa, and Joel L’Esperance scoring goals as the Stars’ depth shone through in an important win. On Sunday night, defenseman Taylor Fedun scored the tying goal late in the third period to force overtime against the Vancouver Canucks. That forced overtime led to an important point gained.
With each passing game, the Dallas Stars are seeing different players or groups step up and serve as the hero. One year ago, the top line had to be the hero if the Stars had any chance of winning.
But this looks like a new Stars team. From Montgomery knowing when and how to properly adjust his lineup and attack, to different players and units finding ways to step up and take charge, Dallas is making a promising push to the finish line.
Tuesday night’s win required grit, determination, and a strong comeback effort. The Stars got all of those, with the push being spearheaded by their superstars. As a result, their playoff odds grew and their path looks more favorable.
Thursday night’s game against the Colorado Avalanche provides another critical test in their final nine-game slate. Who will the hero be in that one? There’s no telling.
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But the fact that the Dallas Stars have various players and groups that they can rely on is an important strength for any playoff team to boast.