Dallas Stars

Dallas Stars stay alive with Chicago's loss in regulation

The Chicago Blackhawks lost to the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 in regulation Sunday afternoon, failing to give the Blackhawks the point they needed to eliminate the Stars.

Dallas goes into today's 5 p.m. game (KTXA/Ch. 21 and NHL TV) at Minnesota needing a victory in regulation or overtime for the two points to earn the eighth and final playoff spot in the NHL Western Conference.

Chicago's loss left the Blackhawks at 97 points and the Stars go into their regular-season finale with 95. A Stars win ties the Blackhawks, but the Stars can't win in a shootout. The first relevant tiebreaker is victories excluding shootout wins, and Chicago has their edge there, 38 wins in regulation or overtime (ROW) to 37.

The next tiebreaker is head to head, and Dallas has the edge, winning the season series 3-1.

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/04/10/2989006/dallas-stars-stay-alive-with-chicagos.html


Stars Making a Late Season Push for the Post Season

If there is one thing that can be said for hockey, just watching the rankings going down the stretch can be dramatic in itself.

The Dallas Stars needed to get hot with the season winding down if they were going to have a chance at making the post season. Hot is exactly what they have been winning their last four games in a row to move within two points of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

"You know these are must-win games. You've got to guard against looking too far ahead and moving too far into the future. Hopefully we can do our job and get some help," Stars right wing Adam Burish said.

The fourth win came Friday night, a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche in a game that saw Mike Ribeiro, Brenden Morrow, and Loui Eriksson each score a goal.

Dallas never trailed in the game after getting out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to goals by Ribeiro and Eriksson. Colorado managed to close the gap to 2-1 when they scored their first goal with just under seven minutes left in the second period.

Morrow scored his 32nd of the season less than a minute into the final period to stretch the lead back out to two goals. Colorado would add on another one, but simply could not get many shots off (17 on the night) against a tough Stars defense.

The win in Denver comes a night after beating the Avalanche 4-2 back in Dallas.

“It’s like playoffs,” head coach Marc Crawford said. “You look at playoff teams they have scars, cuts and bruises. Our determination and desperation is showing not on the scoreboard and in the win column, it’s also showing on our faces.”

For the Stars to be a playoff bound team they will need a little help as well as a win in their last game. After Friday’s nights win they sit in 9th place, one spot out of the playoffs, with 95 points while the Chicago Blackhawks are in 8th with 97 points.

Dallas will need to beat the Minnesota Wild in their final game of the regular season on Sunday first. The Wild have long been out of playoff contention. A win would give the Stars a sweep of the Wild in their season series (currently 3-0, Stars).

All will be for naught if the defending Stanley Cup champions beat the Detroit Red Wings, another playoff bound team, in their final game Sunday afternoon beginning at 12:30 PM EST.

At least by time the Stars start playing later that night they will know whether the playoffs are on the line or not!

http://www.mvptexas.com/nhl/1419-stars-making-a-late-season-push-for-the-post-season.html

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