The long break may have been just what Tyler Seguin needed after the center sealed the win over the Minnesota Wild, Friday night, attributing two goals in the 3-1 victory. Seguin got about a week or so to rest as the center missed out on the All-Star Game festivities for the first time since 2014, although given a chance to get voted, the spot rightfully landed to Gabriel Landeskog, who had a stellar performance in San Jose.

Seguin didn’t mind only because it meant rest, along with the other top line players who help to carry this Stars team. Yes, everyone does their bits and pieces but at the end of the day its the top line that seems to get Dallas through.

Although, Andrew Cogliano put in his first goal in a Dallas Stars sweater Friday night to help out. With three out of the four goals for Dallas out of the All-Star break coming from the top players, though, it looks as if the team might need to ride them to the finish. Which is wary because inconsistencies have even plagued the top line throughout this season, not just the depth.

Since acquiring Cogliano, the Stars have been playing at a quicker pace and getting more shots on the net. Instead of having first period brain farts, Dallas is starting to grab momentum off the bat and not waiting. In a sense, their play has become more consistent across each period.

Now, whether that is a direct correlation to Cogliano or a slight switch in the system to play quicker or just knowing that every game now is of utmost importance, it’s working.

That and ever since the new year has hit, Tyler Seguin has refound his old form. With four multi-goal games and points in seven out of the last 11 games (nine goals and four assists), all is well, for now.

Dallas finished up its six-game homestand Friday night against Minnesota, sealing a three-game winning streak. While the homestand started out rocky, looking at 0-3, Dallas was able to put in a win before the All-Star break and then now come out of the break with two more.

Wednesday night’s game was a bit of a sleeper with Jamie Benn netting in a goal in the first to win it and talking trash across the bench being the only takeaways. Friday night’s Central Division matchup was a better turnaround.

Cogliano opened up the scoring with a tip-in goal from a Roman Polak shot that just got Devan Dubnyk underneath his glove. Although, Cogliano took a trip to the penalty box for a double minor that correlated into a goal roughly five minutes later in the middle frame.

With the game tied up at one apiece, Tyler Seguin netted in the game-winner a little more than halfway into the third period. Dubnyk was having a rather good night, much like Ben Bishop, but this goal Dubnyk will be wanting back.

With an awkward angle from the faceoff circle and Seguin’s powerful slap shot, it just had all the makings of finding the gap. Ultimately, the puck went right through the five-hole as Dubnyk looked to have the save but whiffed on it.

Down 1-2, Dubnyk skated off the ice and 24 seconds left to go Seguin capitalized on the empty netter to put the game away. The Dallas Stars now jump into third place in the Central Division leaving Minnesota with the Wild Card spot, for now. But just about how many times has this flip flop occurred already this season and how many more times will we see it? The Central’s battle stands between the Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, and the Colorado Avalanche all jockeying around the 3-5 spots in the standings.

We will see how long the Stars last in third place as Dallas will face a tough road test against the Nashville Predators Saturday and then a follow-up appointment with Nashville again later next week.