February is crunch time in the NHL. This is the month that gives a clear understanding of who makes the playoffs. The Dallas Stars remain as one of the hopefuls. They are on the outside looking in but are climbing their way up the standings. A massive win on Friday night against the Winnipeg Jets helped their cause. They still have their problems but anything can happen in the playoff race. The Trade Deadline rumors heat up as teams need to make decisions one month out. Here’s how the Stars can make the playoffs.
Score More
It’s as simple as that. The Stars are exactly the halfway team in the scoring department. 16 out of 32 is not where they want as a position. 3.04 goals per game is alright but not when you analyze it. It’s a tale of two offenses. You have guys like the Joe Pavelski line lighting the lamp in more games than not. Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz combine with Pavelski for a lethal trio. Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn are not scoring as much as they should. Benn and Seguin are starting to find their stride a little bit more. If the rest of the team starts scoring more then the Stars are looking at more than a wildcard spot.
Anything Can Happen
If you are a new Stars fan, their games are not quiet. Look no further than their last game against the Winnipeg Jets. They are three points out of a playoff spot with three games in hand on the Anaheim Ducks. They just need to get there. It doesn’t matter if they are a wildcard or not. The 2020 Stanley Cup Final seems like a lifetime ago. Stars fans are ready to see a Stanley Cup Final game at the American Airlines Center.
Trade Deadline Approaches
The Trade Deadline is a little over a month out. John Klingberg is on the rumor mill as a favorite to go elsewhere. Teams that are not going to the playoffs become sellers. They trade players away to playoff teams looking for a boost. The Stars are right on the line. Trading some players away might fit the future should they start losing games. They are not buyers simply because they have no cap space left. The Trade Deadline is always a busy time so let’s see what happens. They might need one more player to finish the puzzle.
Winning the Stanley Cup this season is a task. There are lots of good teams vying for the ultimate chalice. The Stars can be one of those teams. They are an unstoppable offense if everyone contributes. Stars fans have longed for a title ever since 1999. One thing that many wish for is just a Stanley Cup Final game at the AAC. Fans remain optimistic but the Stars have lots to do if they want to make the playoffs.
Author’s Note: The Olympics are a fun watch right now. Team USA Women’s hockey are in the Semi-Final and are looking for a repeat as Gold Medalists.
Photo: Dallas Stars Twitter
