Dallas Stars: Winning Into Playoffs Provides Necessary Morale Boost

This season has been trying for the Dallas Stars. While they’ve overcome adversity — and continue to do so — the playoffs are well within their reach. But it’s increasingly important that they make it on their own terms instead of relying on other teams to help.

The Dallas Stars are one victory (more specifically, one point) away from clinching a playoff berth for the first time since the 2015-16 season. While it can happen a number of ways, this team needs to win and clinch a playoff berth themselves instead of hoping for other teams to lose.

What Injuries?

Dallas has been no stranger to incredibly unfortunate injury scenarios this season. From Stephen Johns‘ post-traumatic headaches to Ben Bishop‘s revolving door of stints being sidelined, the Stars have seen a lot. But they’ve persisted.

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If they can come out of Tuesday’s game against Philadelphia with two points and a secured spot in the 2019 playoffs, it’ll be that much sweeter because they did it themselves despite everything going on. Because why shouldn’t Bishop get injured at a pivotal point of the season?

The true epitome of the Stars’ luck this year was on display as Mats Zuccarrello fell victim to a broken arm a mere two periods into his debut with the team. Zuccarello was acquired as a rental to boost the Dallas scoring attack as they headed into their playoff push, but he’s been sidelined for the past five weeks.

Really, it’s amazing that this team has accomplished all that they have thus far, but it’ll be far from over when the playoffs are secured.

Confidence is Key

Almost nothing about professional sports is removed from the pressure of egos. Yes, other teams can lose themselves out of contention, but the Stars don’t want to be sitting idly by as they root for the team facing off against their Western Conference foe.

Dallas wants to take the playoffs into their own hands and finish this push on the right foot. That means coming out tonight and forcing the Flyers to really earn it tomorrow night. Although they’ve been mathematically eliminated, they’re surely going to have their ego on the line on Tuesday.

And the Stars have to be more desperate, dedicated and focused than Philadelphia to come out on top. With a guaranteed appearance in the playoffs for the first time in years potentially waiting at the end of Tuesday’s matchup, Dallas has a lot to play for.