How a quick turnaround saved a season for the Dallas Stars

Virtually dead not even a month ago, the Dallas Stars have roared back into contention on the strength of a monstrous road trip through western Canada.

On October 18th, the Dallas Stars got run off the rink by the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-2. At that moment, their record stood at 1-7-1. It was a monumentally bad start that had everyone shaking their heads and wondering how a season packed with so many expectations could go so horribly wrong.

At the sake of sounding hyperbolic, what has happened since has simply been miraculous. After that unremarkable loss in Pittsburgh, the Stars have pulled off a white-hot 10-1-1 run. They’ve gone from averaging 1.89 goals per game to scoring a little over three goals per game. Conversely, they’ve flipped the script on their goals-against average from 3.33 to 1.89.

Further, the defense that rose up and sparked their late season run last year has returned. They have given up 52 total goals, which is good for fourth in the entire NHL. The offense, while still seemingly mired in the bottom third of the league, has actually sprung to life. To wit, through their first thirteen games, the Stars were -11 in goal differential. In the eight games since, they’re +14.

Under any circumstance, this massive swing in fortune would be impressive. What has happened has been a case study in leadership and mental toughness. At a time in which chaos reigned, the Stars looked within, dug deep, and have outclassed their competition. From head coach Jim Montgomery on down, there has been very little flash, but there has been a relentless work ethic that paid immediate dividends.

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Nowhere was this more apparent than during last week’s four-game march through western Canada . In the span of seven days, the Stars had to visit Winnipeg, Calgary, Vancouver, and Edmonton. At the time, each of those teams stood above the Stars in the Western Conference standings. To say they passed the test would be a gross understatement. They aced it. Despite losing to Winnipeg in overtime–and a head coach call-out of left wing Jamie Benn and center Tyler Seguin in the process–Dallas proceeded to win the three remaining games and pick up seven of the possible eight points on the road swing.

In fact, the most impressive win of the bunch was the trip finale in Edmonton. The Stars had already secured five road points going into that game, and were trailing the Oilers 4-2 going into the third period. It would’ve been easy to fold up their tents and live to fight another day.

But the Stars came out in the final frame and overwhelmed the home team to tie it in regulation. Then in overtime, the oft-maligned captain scored his first goal in fifteen games to cap the dramatic comeback. If you were watching, you could see the weight lift from Benn’s shoulders. Hopefully this opens the floodgates for both him and his running buddy, Seguin.

This is really just the beginning, though. The Stars dug themselves a hole from which they’re just now pulling out. They’ve gone from thirteenth in the West to the top wild card spot and a statistical tie for third in the Central division. And it’s all been in less than thirty days. What is a massive relief, though, is that this team is finally playing to their paper and showing the mettle of a true contender.

• Published on 11/18/2019 at 12:01 PM
• Last updated at 11/18/2019 at 11:53 AM