Last year’s overtime/shootout woes has become a distant memory for the Dallas Stars. Their play past sixty minutes has helped them into a playoff spot this far, too. From leaving points on the table last season to seeing two points instead of just one after a game.
Midway through March, the Stars found themselves winning nine out of ten games past regulation. That’s nine more points to push the team closer to a playoff spot. Something that has head coach Rick Bowness praising the hockey gods. As opposed to 2021, of course.
“Last year, we couldn’t catch a break in overtime,” Stars coach Rick Bowness said. “We couldn’t. We hit goal posts, we missed nets. Our overtime record was dreadful last year because of it. Every time they came down, it was in the net. This year, our goalie’s making saves and we’re getting huge goals.”
Having a healthier roster is the biggest difference. Last year, the Stars played a compacted fifty six game schedule due to covid, the Texas freeze, and of course a shorter off-season due to making a Stanley Cup final run. This year players have more time to rest, and the team has fewer injuries to worry about.
Shades of 2019 struck Stars fans after seeing John Klingberg seal the deal in overtime. For Klingberg, clutch goal scoring does not get old. Such as with his game winner visiting the Montreal Canadians on St. Patrick’s Day. “It was just a huge goal,” Klingberg said. “We had to step up more but that’s from the whole D-core.”
One of the most iconic overtime wins of the season for Dallas came on the road vs the Winnipeg Jets. Jason Robertson dominated the game, and his performance included the game winning goal. He also recorded a hat trick to secure his club two points in the standings that night.
Photo credit: Ashley Landis/AP
The latest heroics for the Stars in overtime came from magnificent defensive work, and playmaking from Miro Heiskanen to get the puck up ice for Captain Jamie Benn to seal the game. Dallas was able to knock off an Anaheim Ducks team that had lost eleven straight games, but were not playing like a team with such a winless skid. Desperate teams can be the toughest to play against, but the Dallas Stars found a way to get it done
A fun stat from the stat muse website shows that the Dallas Stars have been the best team in the NHL past sixty minutes. Their play past regulation is the biggest reas.on why the Stars missed the playoffs last season. As well as why they are in a playoff spot right now.
Featured photo: seattletimes.com
