Ben Bishop and Alexander Radulov will not return to the Dallas Stars this season after suffering from long-term injuries. Despite injuries to key players, the Stars are still in the playoff hunt. Their depth is what keeps them alive as their 16-14-12 record is five points behind a playoff spot with three games in hand. Help is coming in the form of Tyler Seguin who hasn’t played since the Stanley Cup Final. They can still scrape together a playoff spot.
Bishop will not play at all this season after suffering extensive injury problems. He is a great goaltender but strings of injuries mar him. His two backups are outstanding. Anton Khudobin and Jake Oettinger carry the brunt of his absence. His record may not look like it but Oettinger’s 7-5-6 is one of the reasons why they can still taste playoff hopes.
Radulov missing out hurts. He scored 12 points in 11 games before the season-ending core muscle surgery. We will not see the offensive spark of the Seguin-Jamie Benn-Radulov line as 2/3 of those players will miss over 50% of the season.
Seguin finally returns after a very long absence. He is ready to go and will only miss a few more of the next games. His return could be the final zap the Stars need in order to make a playoff push. Points in their last five games help but unfortunately, the shootout loss to the Nashville Predators could be crippling. They have to win these upcoming games or the season is over.
Other players have stepped in to fill the gaps left in the lineup. Joe Pavelski, Roope Hintz, Jason Robertson, and the other depth players provided lots of offense so far. They are also why the Stars are not eliminated from playoff contention despite teetering on the edge for the last month. These players are carrying the mantle of top players and are doing a great job at it.
If the Stars make the playoffs it will be amazing. To think they still have a chance after so many injuries is remarkable. Fans understand the massive struggle this season is. For Bishop and Radulov, get well soon and return next season. Seguin’s return is just what the Stars need right now. Each game remains as a must-win.
Photo Credit: Dallas Stars / Twitter
