Dallas Stars Daily Links: The Confidence Gap

The Dallas Stars continued their late-season collapse last night at American Airlines Center. Looking for two points that could have kept them in hailing distance of the wild-card race, the Victory Green gave up four unanswered goals to the long-ago eliminated Vancouver Canucks.

Now the team is in free fall, and the postseason discussions could get - well, intense, writes The Dallas Morning News’ Mike Heika. John Klingberg didn’t mince words in the postgame interviews:

“We don’t deserve to win right now,” said [Klingberg]. “We’re doing all of the right things before games, coaches give us all of the information, we just don’t execute enough. We don’t have any confidence at all in the way we’re playing right now in the D-zone, the neutral zone, the O-zone. You can tell there’s no confidence right now, and it’s tough to play then.”

In the end, frustrated fans booed the team off the ice. The players didn’t blame them:

“I can relate to their frustration,” said defenseman Dan Hamhuis. “We’ve got great fans here in Dallas, I think they see the potential that this team has, and they’re frustrated. They know what’s on the line, as do we...I think we felt kind of the same way the crowd did tonight.”

Mike has more. [SportsDayDFW]

“We’ve got to find a way to regroup here.” Head coach Ken Hitchcock spoke to the media after the game:

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More Stars

With their eighth consecutive loss, the Stars set a team record for the longest losing streak since the move to Texas.

Heika was equally blunt in his postgame Cold Facts.

If you want the horrible, horrible details via the national media, here’s the Associated Press write-up courtesy of the CBC.

The Stars’ latest dream-crushing dry spell is taking its toll on everyone.

“It’s tough to find words.” Hamhuis spoke to the media after the Stars’ second home loss this season to his former team.

There appears to be good news for at least one team member. Forward Martin Hanzal is doing well after spinal fusion surgery, and GM Jim Nill reports a “very positive” prognosis.

And Tyler Seguin was bruised but otherwise unharmed (and probably really glad he wears a shield) after this near-disaster with Darren Archibald’s skate. [Sportsnet]

Also, it looks as if Segs won’t lose this particular bet with Brad Marchand.

Around the League(s)

Bloody #Murder

• The runway is clear: The Winnipeg Jets have clinched their spot in the 2018 NHL Playoffs with a 5-4 shootout victory over the already-clinched Nashville Predators. [On The Forecheck]
• And the Minnesota Wild gained a loser point, but fell short against the Boston Bruins in overtime, 2-1. [Hockey Wilderness]

Jets captain Blake Wheeler has taken “full responsibility” for yesterday’s practice slugfest with his own teammate, Ben Chiarot.

But Winnipeg Free Press reporter Randy Turner suggests that somebody needs to have a quiet word with Patrik Laine.

The Western Conference wild-card contest is as heated as ever, and the St. Louis Blues have complicated it further. Jared Clinton examines the state of the race. [The Hockey News]

Tonight, the Calgary Flames will face the Los Angeles Kings without top scorer Johnny Gaudreau. Johnny Hockey has taken a leave of absence to handle an undisclosed family matter.

Here’s a little context now that Connor McDavid and his 96 points have taken the lead for what could be his second consecutive Art Ross Trophy.

In the NWHL, the Metropolitan Riveters won their first Isobel Cup with Katie Fitzgerald’s 1-0 shutout of the Buffalo Beauts.

And in the CWHL, the Markham Thunder won the first Clarkson Cup in franchise history with a 2-1 victory over Kunlun Red Star.

Greetings From Scenic Cedar Park

On Saturday, the Texas Stars lost the second half of a home-and-away with the San Antonio Rampage, 2-1. They still hang on to their playoff position in the AHL’s Pacific Division. [100 Degree Hockey]

Finally

The unintended highlight of last night’s broadcast turned out to be that NHL Shop commercial starring Seguin. Cheer yourself up with a few viewings of “Twinsies.” Enjoy.