The Dallas Stars put on a thrilling run in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs. And while they are now watching the rest of the race pan out as a spectator, the teams still in the fight can serve as encouragement as well as an important reminder.
When the Dallas Stars began their journey through the Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 10, it seemed as though anything could happen. It felt like that for a handful of different reasons.
For one, the Stars spent much of the 2018-19 season painting themselves as an unpredictable group. Whether it was entering the NHL Holiday Break just two games above .500 and outside the playoff picture or their CEO publicly ripping the team’s top two players, you could never surely guess where they were going. They would follow most of their winning streaks with losing skids and fumbled through the first half of their schedule before hitting the gas in the second act.
On the other hand, they looked as though they were potentially built for a deep postseason run. Ben Bishop was leading the charge in the crease with a Vezina-caliber season and the “wild card” title seemed perfectly fitting as the Dallas Stars worked their way into the NHL postseason for just the third time in 10 years.
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Finally, it seemed as though anything could happen because that’s what the Stanley Cup Playoffs are all about. It’s a two-month maze filled with chaos, surprises, and overarching unpredictability.
And for almost an entire month, the Stars followed that script perfectly. They went toe-to-toe with the Central division champion Nashville Predators and knocked them out in a six-game series in round one. They were arguably the better and more determined team in all but one game, received a superb effort in the crease from Bishop, and fired on all cylinders on their way to a series win.
Then came the second round against the St. Louis Blues. After a shaky start in Game 1, Dallas caught fire yet again, winning three of the next four contests in Games 2-5. Everything seemed to be falling into place as it had in round one and the Stars found themselves with a 3-2 series advantage and a chance to finish off the Blues on home ice in Game 6.
But, as we know, that didn’t happen. The Blues bounced back and took control in Game 6 before dominating at home in a deciding Game 7 that ended with Pat Maroon scoring in double overtime to effectively end the Stars’ run.
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And while it was a painful way to go and the unknown factor of what could have been still lingers, the Dallas Stars did something important this year. They overcame various mountains of adversity, took on a loaded Western Conference, and found a way to punch their ticket past game 82. Not only that, but they won a playoff series for just the second time since 2008 and fell one goal short of a trip to the Western Conference Final.
They showed just how dangerous they could be when everything came together and laid a good foundation for the future. But for now, their next step is the offseason.
And while they have already been busy making moves through the first 11 days, the primary focus is still on the rest of the playoff race.
For the past week, all eyes have been focused on both the Eastern Conference Final and Western Conference Final. In the East, the Boston Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes duked it out in a four-game series, with the Bruins pulling off a 4-0 sweep and pushing their way into the Stanley Cup Final. In the West, the St. Louis Blues and San Jose Sharks are currently intertwined in a 2-2 series that looks as though it will need seven games to decide.
In the midst of all of this conference final chaos, there’s a few important reminders and lessons that the Dallas Stars can learn from. On top of that, they can also serve as an encouragement factor.
Take a look at the St. Louis Blues. As of Jan. 3, 2019, they looked to be an absolute mess. They sat in dead last in the NHL standings and had started up a horrible 2018-19 campaign. This campaign came on the heels of a 2017-18 season where they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2011. They had an interim head coach, players were fighting during practice, and the only positive thing about their season to that point was a new team puppy.
Bleedin' Blue
But then, they put together a turnaround. They won 11 games in a row and were one of the hottest teams in the league during the second half of the season. And as the playoffs approached, it didn’t slow them down. They knocked off the Winnipeg Jets (a team that had been to the Western Conference Final one year before) in six games, took the Stars down in a seven-game bout, and continue to bounce back against the Sharks. They are a living testament to not only bouncing back during the season, but staying resilient in the playoffs.
Then there’s the San Jose Sharks. After entering the NHL Holiday Break on a 19-12-7 note, there was some uncertainty floating around the organization. The Sharks had entered the year as one of the favorites to win the Cup after landing superstar defenseman Erik Karlsson to bolster an already-loaded roster, but were struggling to stay consistent.
Following the break, however, they hit the gas pedal. They finished the year at a 46-27-9 mark with 101 points and entered the postseason as the second seed in the Pacific division.
Since then, they’ve been forced to endure a Game 7 against both the Vegas Golden Knights in round one and the Colorado Avalanche in round two. In both, they have found ways to succeed.
Oil On Whyte
And for a team that has been to the postseason in 14 of the past 15 years but has yet to come away with a Cup, it looks as though they may finally be ready to take the next step.
The Boston Bruins never really hit any bumps in the 2018-19 season as they soared to the third-best record in the NHL with 107 points and entered the postseason as the two-seed in the Atlantic division. But after winning the Stanley Cup back in 2011, getting back has proven to be a tough road for them.
The Bruins missed the playoffs in 2015 and 2016 before serving as a first-round exit in 2017 and a second-round exit in 2018. This time around, they won a Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs in round one, pushed through the Columbus Blue Jackets in six games during the second round, and swept the Carolina Hurricanes in the conference final. They seem to be getting better with each round and look to be a prime favorite to win it all.
Finally, there’s the Carolina Hurricanes. After missing the playoffs in nine consecutive seasons and being called a “bunch of jerks” (which favorably turned into a war cry) by a national hockey analyst, the Hurricanes turned the 2018-19 season into an unforgettable one for their franchise. They drove into the postseason as a wild card, knocked off the defending champion Washington Capitals in seven games, and swept the surprise New York Islanders in round two.
And while they suffered the sweep against Boston, their legacy continues to grow and the future looks bright.
The Dallas Stars can take a lesson from each of these four clubs. The Blues serve as a reminder that even teams with extensive struggles can do great things. The Sharks proved that a good foundation can get a team far, even if it takes a few years. The Bruins showed that all it takes is one good regular season to turn things around. And the Hurricanes proved that even the most unlikely teams can end up making the biggest strides in a given season.
There’s a little reminder and encouragement from each team. And as the Dallas Stars prepare for the 2019 offseason and look ahead to an important 2019-20 season, these lessons should stay in the forefront.
Great and exciting times could lie ahead for this organization so long as they keep their focus on what is ahead while drawing from what has been left behind.
So even though the Stars will serve as spectators for the final few weeks of the 2018-19 campaign, it’s an important time to take in what the remaining teams have done and are still doing.
Learning can be the greatest tool, after all.