The 2020 season has been an interesting one. From starting the season 1-7-1 to a franchise tying seven-game win streak to ending the shortened season on a six-game losing streak.
And that was just the regular season.
So far the playoffs have been just as wild. Stars fans will remember the 2020 Dallas Stars as being about as turbulent as any roller coaster out there.
Rick Bowness also took over as interim coach when the club had to part ways with former coach Jim Montgomery on December 10th.
One thing is for sure: this team refuses to give up on themselves.
Going back to roughly six months ago the Stars’ resilience among losing streaks, and the coaching change:
“From top to bottom, they have a team-first mentality that would seemingly portend at least a modicum of postseason success.”
This is correct. You cannot bounce back from this amount of setbacks, and make the playoffs two years in a row without each player believing in one another. All the guys who lace up the skates are on the same page, and they might be playing the best Dallas hockey since at least 2008.
After going 1-2 in the round-robin games, the Stars were still able to climb the seeding amongst the West’s top four. Earning the third seed with a shootout win over rival St. Louis Blues by a final score 2-1. Drawing six seed Calgary Flames in the first round. In spite of being down 1-0, and again 2-1 in the best of seven the Stars were able to find their game and douse the Flames 4-2.
In that clinching game six vs the Flames, the Stars were down 3-0 but won the game 7-3.
To quote Josh Clark from Blackout Dallas:
“That is until the Dallas Stars reminded us that the words “probability” and “inevitable” are not included in their vocabulary.”
Whether they’re coming back from two or three goals down or holding on after a three-goal cushion the Stars keep winning. Keeping fans interested, and guessing as well.
Back to that game six vs Calgary. The Stars are a team that thus far has thrived in the face of adversity. Character as a team in the locker room is what aspect most fans, and critics will point to.
Longtime San Jose Sharks Captain threw in his two cents on the team’s mentality throughout the year so far:
“There were some crazy moments throughout the year,” Pavelski said. “You just move on and you play.”
The latest chapter in this so far magical run; a thrilling game seven or win vs the Colorado Avalanche. After surrendering goal number four on the day with 3:40 remaining in the third period, the Stars score their fourth ten seconds later.
The latest (unexpected) hero for the Stars; Joel Kiviranta. Thus far his three career playoff goals come from a game seven hat trick to propel Dallas to a five to four-overtime win vs the Avs.
Mike Heika, Senior Staff Writer for the Dallas Stars, recently weighed in on the Stars’ habits of finding ways to get things done over the last eleven months.
“In a year where they have overcome incredible adversity, they seem just fine living in the middle of a chaotic swirl. Friday was the perfect example. Dallas had a 3-1 lead on the Avalanche in the best-of-seven series and then lost Games 5 and 6. That forced Game 7, and Colorado was the better team.”
All of the ups, and downs of Dallas’ 2019-2020 campaign thus far translates into a trip to the Western Conference Final, the first since 2007-2008.
Every team foes through adversity. Some stories just stick out more than others.
Featured Image: Associated Press
