Stars Skid

Will it and when does it stop?

The door closed on another game at the American Airlines Center Tuesday night after the Dallas Stars suffered defeat to the New York Rangers with a final score of 2-4. It marked the sixth consecutive loss for the Stars as their skid continues through the month of March.

One of the most common questions I have been asked is “What’s happened to the Stars?”

A live look at the Dallas Stars right now pic.twitter.com/oWEtrs93DO — (In)Correct Dallas Stars 🌟 (@IncorrectStars) March 11, 2020

Well, I honestly don’t know right now. That’s why I am taking to the little buttons with letters to try and figure it out. I pour words onto the screen like I pour a glass of red wine to help ease my sorrows. Join me as I conduct this Shakespearian masterpiece of excuses. (The wine helps with losing boys and girls.)

Let us take a look at a few of the possible reasons why the Stars are falling from the sky right in front of our eyes.

Skid Excuse One: Power Play Woes

Let’s face it. The once-powerful and mighty Stars powerplay is now as reliable as a strainer holding water. Coming in ranked at 22nd in the league in power-play goals allowed, the Stars days of being a top powerplay killing unit seem to have blown by.

I know stats make everything valid but I can confidently say that I have not seen Alexander Radulov take more pedestrian penalties in his time with Dallas. Not to mention the lack of quality scoring chances, which is a whole other beast. But you have to, as an NHL playoff-caliber team, be smarter around the puck.

As far as when the Stars are fortunate enough to go on the “TXU Power Play” (For my local fans at the Stars), they can’t find open lanes. They aren’t creating chances. Lastly, they can’t find a groove and start to cycle the puck. All of which have resulted in the Stars dropping down in the powerplay goals ranking in a cluster for 17 overall with teams like the New Jersey Devils and Arizona Coyotes.

Both the Devils and Coyotes are currently on the outside of the playoff race looking in.

Skid Excuse Two: Scoring

Or lack thereof. The Stars skated off the ice against the Rangers scoring two goals. In a game where the Stars were on the losing end of the ice, the goals actually meant something. It meant the Stars actually DO know how to score. Crazy concept, right?

The Stars are currently in familiar territory when it comes to the scoring category. The bottom.

They rank 28th out of all 31 teams in goals for in the current NHL season. The teams below them? The Detriot Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, and the Los Angeles Kings. Three out of the four worst teams in the league if it weren’t for the San Jose Sharks ruining that stat for this article.

I have nothing to say. — Stars Nation (@StarsNationDAL) March 11, 2020

In the previous year, the Stars were in the exact same position as the regular season came to a close. Number one in our hearts, number 28 in scoring in the NHL. Now I will say this much, while the Stars do not produce the “Lamp Lighting” atmosphere night in and night out, the goaltending has been historically good.

Tonight isn’t about the good, though. It’s about the bad.

With names like Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Joe Pavelski, Alexander Radulov, and even Corey Perry to an extent, you have to wonder why this team has not been able to find the back of the net more often.

Skid Excuse Three: Front Office Folly

Jim Nill and company have found themselves at the center of the limelight. Once again, for a less than wonderful reason.

Let’s take a quick tour down memory lane. Shall we?

The 2018-19 NHL season ends in disappointment with a second-round elimination. But optimism is in the air! You sign two talented, albeit aging veterans in Perry and Pavelski and get rid of a younger skater in Tyler Pitlick. Age before beauty right?

Oh and some guy named Ryan Hartman basically gave you the cold shoulder and signed elsewhere after you made moves to acquire his rights. That’s fine. Nothing to see here.

Then you have one of the worst starts in Stars’ history. You lose a couple of starting roll pieces on opening night. Not the front office’s fault, the boys on the ice just giving it all for the team. Okay, let’s let that one slide.

The Stars bounce back and have a historic November and all is right in the world. Then you fire your head coach. Fantastic!

Nill then assures us that interim head coach Rick Bowness is here to stay, even with an offensive juggernaut head coach Gerard Gallant floating around in coaches purgatory. (He is still available as of today. I just wanted to let that be known.) But when goaltenders Ben Bishop and Anton Khudobin are carrying the team, why would we need to score? That would be too easy.

To sum things up, if this front office does not secure you at least a Campbell Bowl, they should all be shown the door.

Skid Conclusion

Now what? Well, the Stars wrap up the rest of the week’s action with two more home games. One against the Florida Panthers on Thursday. Then a weekend tilt against the San Jose Sharks. The Panthers bring in one of the league’s top-ranked offenses and the Sharks could easily pose as a trap game as their roster is riddled with injuries. But smelling blood in the water.

I wish I could say I felt confident after tonight but, I don’t. This Stars team feels flat. At the worst possible time. With the season coming to a conclusion in April one has to wonder. Will the Stars even maintain a wild-card spot? Let alone, a playoff birth?

Remember when the Stars were playing a game against the Blues with the top of the division/conference on the line? Right now, they’re 10 points behind first place, 4 points from dropping to a wild card and 5 points from out of the playoff picture. — Saad Yousuf (@SaadYousuf126) March 11, 2020

If not, it’s time to seriously re-think the direction of this franchise.

But hey, at least the Texas Stars won tonight.

The #txstars hang onto 5-4 win in wild game against Eagles on Gardner's third period goal. Oettinger makes 43-saves and Rosburg adds a goal and assist in pro debut. Read: https://t.co/NitKC9MV3N pic.twitter.com/9aSiXKZodv — Texas Stars (@TexasStars) March 11, 2020

I am a retired softball legend and an unrestricted beer league hockey free agent. I swing sticks for fun on the ice and links and am constantly feeding my YouTube addiction. I am forever grateful to the state of Minnesota for their hockey team in 1994 and more grateful for the Dallas Stars Stanley Cup in 1999.