Dallas Stars @ Anaheim Ducks

Sunday April 3, 7PM CT

Hopefully during the game tonight, the Dallas Stars don't get nightmares of the last game that occurred between these two teams. In that last meeting, the Ducks tied the game with seven seconds left in regulation and then won the game in overtime. Since that game, the Stars (38-28-11, 87 points) have plummeted out of the playoff race while the Anaheim Ducks (44-29-5, 93 points) have contined to be one of the hottest teams in the league. 

Final

Dallas Stars 1 - Los Angeles Kings 3

Whatever hope Dallas Stars fans had left for the playoffs died as Dustin Brown skated down the ice and leisurely put the puck into the Stars empty net. A season of ups and downs will end on the ultimate down note as the Stars lose 3-1 to the Kings, leaving what is essentially no chance at making the playoffs.

In a game that they had to win, Dallas played in this game with no urgency. Los Angeles dictated the play and the onnly time Dallas played with some fire was in the last minute, when they were down 2-1 and needed a goal. The Stars were lazy to the puck, constantly getting beaten and were failling to rush the net. Once again, the top forwards for the team did next to nothing, even with Richards' goal.

To make the playoffs, Dallas would have to win each of their last five games, an inconceivable notion given their recent performances. They would then need either Chicago or Anaheim to then go winless in their final five games, again virtually impossible given their recent winning ways.

The Stars next game is April 3 at Anaheim to play the Ducks.

Dallas Stars @ Los Angeles Kings

Saturday April 5, 3:00 P.M CT

Focus, that needs to be the motto for the Stars today. Dallas (38-27-11, 87 points), has lost seven of their last eight games and were mauled in their previous matchup against the San Jose Sharks by a 6-0 score. The Stars, who sit in 10th place, head to Los Angeles today to face the 5th place Kings (44-27-6, 94 points).

The Kings have also been streaking, going 7-2-1 in their last ten games but Dallas catches a bit of a break as LA will be missing two of its' best offensive players in Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams. The Stars will have to concentrate on stopping Dustin Brown, Jack Johnson and Dustin Pennar. The Kings have a 3-1-0 record since losing both players, but lost their last game against Vancouver 3-1.

At the moment, Dallas is five points behind Chicago for the 8th seed in the playoffs and still mathematically have a chance to overtake them. However, the recent string of losses have torpedoed the Stars chances. Only two of the top ten seeds of the Western Conference have losing records in their last ten games, Dallas and Calgary.

The Stars have six games left in the regular season and despite their collapse, they are still mathematically in the playoff race. Here's a quick look at the teams that the Stars are fighting against in order to get that coveted playoff berth.

• Calgary 38-29-11 (87 points) - In tenth place but tied with the Stars in points. They lose the tiebreaker to Dallas if both teams were to finish the season tied.  
  • 3-5-2 in their last 10 games.
  • Previous game: Lost 4-2 to Anaheim.
  • Their next game will be April 1 at the St. Louis Blues.
  • Calgary holds the distinct edge in the series against the Blues, winning all three of the previous matchups by a combined score of 11-1.

• Chicago 41-27-8 (90 points) - They hold the last playoff spot and sit three points ahead of Dallas. They hold the tiebreaker edge on Dallas, with three more regulation+overtime wins.
  • 4-4-2 in their last 10 games.
  • Previous game: Lost 3-0 to Boston.
  • Their next game will be April 1 at the Columbus Blue Jackets.
  • Chicago has won three of the five games with Columbus and holds a 21-14 goal scoring edge. They have won the previous two game played in Columbus.

Final

Dallas Stars 0 - San Jose Sharks 6

With their backs against the wall and season riding on the line in a do or die game, the Dallas Stars came out and absolutely wet the bed against the San Jose Sharks in a 6-0 loss. Dallas was outplayed in every single facet of the game and it showed on the score sheet. San Jose forwards carved up the defense and could get any shot that they wanted. Kari Lehtonen, who has started 27 of the last 28 games, looked just plain tired out there and he gave up rebound after rebound as he faced 33 of the Sharks 52 shots.

San Jose took the game to Dallas and forced their hand. Once the Sharks scored that power-play goal in the second period, you could see the will just draining from the Stars, especially after they failed to score on three straight power-play opportunities. The losing streak and constant pressure looks like they have broken this team and Marc Crawford just can't find a way to motivate them.

With this loss, Stars is put us all out of our misery and are all but eliminated from the playoff race. While they are still mathematically alive, they show no signs of playing winning hockey as they have dropped eight of their last ten games. Brad Richards and Loui Eriksson haven't even looked anything close to what they were before they suffered their concussions and continue to look listless out there as the game wore on.

Dallas currently sit three points back of Chicago with each team having six games left to play. Their next game is Saturday in Los Angeles to face the Kings.

Dallas Stars @ San Jose Sharks

Thursday March 31, 9:30 P.M CT 

 
To say that tonight’s game against San Jose (44-23-9, 97 points – 3rd, Western Conference) is the biggest game of the season is not hyperbole. It is the epitome of a must-win game. Ok, now I’ve run out of big words, let’s just say that if the Stars (38-26-11, 87 points – 9th, Western Conference) want to remain in the playoff hunt with a reasonable shot at sneaking into the playoffs, they need to win tonight at the Shark Tank.

The single point gained against Phoenix on Tuesday helped the team tread water, but time is running out, and the waters continue to become more dangerous in the swirling pool of the Shark Tank. The Stars currently sit in ninth place, three points behind Chicago for the final playoff spot, while the Sharks are comfortably in third in the conference, tops in the Pacific. The good news for Dallas is that they have been good against San Jose this season (3-1-1), and are historically very good at pulling out road wins against the Sharks.

Final SO

Dallas Stars 1 - Phoenix Coyotes 2

Even when they outplay their opponents, Dallas just can't find a way to win these late season games. They drop another one tonight, suffering a shootout loss 2-1 to the Phoenix Coyotes. Dallas was aggressive throughout the game, tallying 45 shots, but they just couldn't get that extra goal past Ilia Bryzgalov who stopped just about everything and didn't give up rebounds.

Kari Lehtonen played a good game for Dallas, stopping 26 shots, but he was just outdueled on this night. Dallas did gain a point on Chicago, who lost 3-0 to Boston, so they are three points back of the Blackhawks with a game in hand.

6 of the past 9 games have been decided by either 1 or 2 goals. The Stars have lost all 6 of those games, a horrible sign for a team that is trying to compete for the playoffs. It just doesn't look like this is a playoff ready team because they just can't win these high pressure games.

Dallas' next game is Thursday, March 31 against the San Jose Sharks. Dallas has a 3-1-1 record against San Jose this season.

Dallas Stars @ Phoenix Coyotes

9:00 P.M CT Tuesday, March 29

Maybe it's time for the Stars to hire a motivational speaker. Yes, the ownership is in shambles and there's no money left to spend, but Dallas needs to dig deep or else face the prospects of a three-year playoff drought. The last two games have had to be extremely draining just because of the nature of the losses. They couldn't have picked a worse time to go on a losing streak. Before this drought, the Stars had only missed the playoffs twice (not counting the lockout) in their previous 17 seasons in Dallas. And now, the Stars (38-26-10, 86pts) are on the verge of three years with no playoff hockey as they travel to play the Phoenix Coyotes (41-25-11, 93pts).

Phoenix has also been one of the hotter teams in the league, winning 8 of their last 11 games, so Dallas gets no breaks coming into this matchup. With 93 points, Phoenix currently sits 4th in the Western Conference while Dallas languishes in 10th place with 86 points. The Stars are one point below Calgary and four points behind Chicago, their new playoff target.

Dallas has three more games to play than Calgary and Chicago is still without star center Patrick Sharp, who suffered a knee injury on March 20. So while things certainly look really bleak, there is just a sliver of a light at the end of the tunnel.

Final Nashville 4 - Dallas 2

Scoring Summary:

1st Period - 

   8:49           Alex Goligoski (13) (Power Play)              Dallas 1 - Nashville 0
                     Assists: Loui Eriksson, Mike Ribeiro

   14:26         David Legwand (16)                                  Dallas 1 - Nashville 1
                     Assists: Martin Erat, Shea Weber

2nd Period

    2:33         Mike Fisher (16)                                         Dallas 1 - Nashville 2
                    Assists: Patric Hornqvist, Sergei Kostitsyn

    4:07         Brenden Morrow (28)                                 Dallas 2 - Nashville 2
                    Assists: Jamie Benn, Mike Ribeiro

    9:57         Mike Fisher (17)                                         Dallas 2 - Nashville 3
                    Assists: Ryan Suter, Patric Hornqvist

3rd Period

    19:56       David Legwand (17) (SH) (Empty Net)      Dallas 2 - Nashville 4
                    Unassisted

Dallas Stars @ Nashville Predators 

7:00 P.M CT Saturday, March 26

Regroup, rebound, refocus. Whatever the word is, the Stars need to get over that Wednesday loss against the Ducks and do whatever they can to get points against Nashville (really, how did Nashville get a team!?). The Stars now embark on a five game road trip, one that will determine their playoff fate. Despite all the cries of doom and gloom, Dallas is still only one point out of the playoff race after Nashville managed to beat the Ducks 5-4 (despite Ryan Suter's best attempts to do otherwise).

Dallas, at 86 points, is one point behind Anaheim and two points behind Chicago. Nashville sits on that next plateau, four points ahead of Dallas, and have won 7 of their last 8 games so it's just another hot team about to play the Stars. Dallas currently holds the edge in the season series with a 2-1-0 record, which includes a 4-2 win at Nashville back on Dec. 28.

more after the jump...