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Dallas Stars Daily Links: The Stars’ Fight For A Playoffs Spot Is Still Pretty Complicated

Posted on by Kathleen Tibbetts

The Dallas Stars are riding the kind of winning streak they haven’t enjoyed since the beginning of the 2021 season. But is it too little, too late to return to the Stanley Cup playoffs? That depends on what they do with the next three weeks – and whether they get a little help from their closest competitors.

With races all over the Honda Central Division too close to call, The Dallas Morning News’ Matthew DeFranks took a look at what could happen if the Stars end up in a tie on points with the Nashville Predators. It almost certainly won’t be good:

Should the Stars end up tied with Nashville in points, the first tiebreaker is regulation wins. Dallas has 16 while the Predators have 17. That gap may very well close if the Stars continue to play well and wrap up games in regulation, especially against the Red Wings on Thursday and Saturday.

If the Stars and Predators are tied in regulation wins, combined regulation and overtime wins is the next tiebreaker. The Stars have been famously impotent in overtime this season, going 1-6 in games that end in overtime (plus 2-6 in shootouts). As a result, the Stars only have 17 regulation and overtime wins to Nashville’s 20. That’s a bigger hill to climb in the final 11 games, though still doable.

It’s easier to say “Just keep winning in regulation” than to do it, especially against opponents like the Carolina Hurricanes and the Tampa Bay Lightning. But the recent hot streak helps:

The Stars head to Detroit riding a four-game win streak that matches a season high, set when the team began the season 4-0-0 in January. Dallas finishes the season with nine of its 11 remaining games on the road, including a seven-game trip to end the season.

“It’s a little bit more mentally draining when you’re losing, so obviously if you can win those games, it makes your mental game a little easier and you don’t have to think so much,” Jason Dickinson said.

Matt has more. [SportsDayDFW]

Stars Stuff

What if a bunch of #Disco beat writers paneled on this? Saad Yousuf can show you.

Don’t look now, but Jason Robertson is attracting some national attention in the Calder Trophy race. [NHL]

Captain Jamie Benn didn’t get much fanfare in the metadata, but he does get the lead-off position in this week’s Top 10 Goals collection.

And prospect Oskar Back just got his ELC.

Around The Leagues

#Disco Jazz

  • The Chicago Blackhawks gained two points on the Stars, but also took a point from the Nashville Predators with a 5-4 comeback win in OT. [Second City Hockey]/

Meanwhile, where the other half lives, the Vegas Golden Knights just nailed down their own spot in the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs.

No relaxation of COVID protocols, no agreement for NHL participation in the Beijing Olympics, and no flying to Boca Raton: this week’s GM meeting in bullet points.

Another day, another COVID cancellation – but this time it’s the 2021 Women’s World Championship, which was days away. Hailey Salvian examines the reaction. [The Athletic]

Greetings From Scenic Cedar Park

The Texas Stars are on break until next Thursday, but that just leaves them more time to celebrate Neil Graham’s birthday.

Finally

Jasons recognize Jasons. Enjoy.

Talking Points