Urgency becomes more prevalent whenever a playoff series goes the distance. The early part of the series in Games 1 and 2 sets the tone for games to follow. Teams want to win one or both of the first two games in a playoff series. The Dallas Stars have not done that. What began as high hopes turned sour after the first 120 minutes of this First Round playoff series. The Stars are now in a 0-2 hole after dropping the first two games to the Vegas Golden Knights. Desperation mode is now activated. The Stars must now win the next four out of five games to avoid a disastrous First Round exit in thi ..read more

Let’s break down the three keys for the Stars in their 1st Round matchup against the Las Vegas Golden Knights.  1) Special Teams Special teams are always a factor in winning or losing a hockey game. In the playoffs, the power play and penalty kill is magnified and broken down a thousand times. There were 13 penalties called over Saturday’s two games. A total of 21 minor penalties were called through Sunday’s games. That’s 34 penalties across six games, which is slightly above four penalties a game. Therefore, expect penalties to be called, especially if tensions increase on the ice and th ..read more

Miro Heiskanen is underrated. The planet Earth is also round. Everyone who follows and understands the game already knows this. When you’re a fan of the Dallas Stars, it’s a fun reality to revisit, but it can be a bit annoying at times. Nevertheless, Heiskanen is the NHL’s best defenseman who doesn’t get the Norris Trophy consideration. Shutdown Defense Cale Makar is the best offensive defenseman in the game. But if you’re asking for somebody to defend Connor McDavid or Sidney Crosby, Heiskanen is your guy. Miro back checks, stick checks, skates, as well as anybody, and on occasion, he’ll thro ..read more

Hockey teams set out for a successful season long before it starts. This point of the year is the final grade of that success. The Dallas Stars will end their regular season riding the highest of highs. The Stars need 1 point, or the Vancouver Canucks to miss out on 1 point to take the Western Conference. Their 51-21-9 record exceeds all expectations on their season. The Presidents’ Trophy race is over with the New York Rangers taking it, but the fact they inserted into that conversation proves their caliber of dominance. The Stars are now at a crossroads, with the center of it being an appear ..read more

Scouts described Thomas Harley ahead of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft as “effortless,” “mobile” and “efficient.” Five years later, Harley is proving them right.  Harley Seized His Opportunity The Dallas Stars might not be where they are in standings – nor in confidence level – without Harley’s incredible ascension.  At the beginning of the season, Harley was learning the NHL game all over again: the pace, the little details, and the dedication necessary on and off the ice (Harley previously appeared in 34 NHL contests during the 2021-2022 season). He collected six total points through Oct ..read more

For three consecutive years, the Dallas Stars are a Stanley Cup playoff team.  As the old saying goes in the playoffs, you need your best players to be your best players.  The Stars might be the deepest team in all of the NHL.  Today we are looking at two forwards, a defenseman, and a goaltender who can catapult Dallas deeper into postseason play. Jake Oettinger Starting with the goalie, Jake Oettinger appears to have put inconsistent play behind him.  Just in time for the playoffs, Oettinger has been playing his best hockey of the season.  Dallas doesn’t quite need hi ..read more

Depth scoring makes or breaks hockey teams. You must get production from other guys not on the top line as they make up about 73% of the ice time in games. The Dallas Stars are having one of the best years in franchise history. Their magic number to clinch the Central Division is now down to 2. Any Stars win secures the division in the next 3 games or Colorado not gaining at least 5/6 points and Winnipeg not gaining at least 7/8. The depth scoring from the Stars is what got them in this position. 8 Stars players recorded over 20 goals this season, a franchise record. Robertson, Pavelski, and H ..read more

“They’re deep.”  – Jared Bednar, head coach of the Colorado Avalanche, on the Dallas Stars after the visiting Stars defeated Colorado, 7-4, on Sunday night.  “They’re a different animal than some of the teams we’ve been playing. They’re a wagon.”  Coach Bednar had no shortage of praise for Dallas. Bednar’s counterpart in the Lone Star State, Pete DeBoer, has pressed all the right buttons and encouraged players to grow. For example, Oettinger lifted his save percentage to 0.903 and lowered his GAA to 2.83 following an alarming slump earlier this season. Wyatt Johnston shattered h ..read more

While teams like the New York Rangers, Colorado Avalanche and the Boston Bruins grabbing most of the headlines there’s another team that doesn’t match that mainstream attention. Sure, the Dallas Stars are talked about a bit more often now since they’re currently leading the west. If not for that, and their franchise winning streak we’d barely hear a whiff about Dallas. The Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers, Vegas Golden Knights, and even the basement dwelling Chicago Blackhawks led by rookie Connor Bedard gain the most attention out west. While national attention inevitably gravitates more towards ot ..read more

Long-time Dallas Stars fans remember all too well the many times the team finished a season without a playoff appearance. Those days are past us as the glory days are upon us now with the Stars becoming the first team in the Western Conference to clinch a playoff spot. Expectations of this team elevated this season with a current 47-19-9 record at 103 points. They are now one point behind the leading New York Rangers with equal games played. The final stretch of the season is among us with the Stars looking for more in the success department. Division Win The Central Division became a tight 3 ..read more