• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Dallas Stars

For the Dallas Stars, Playoffs Start in October

By Matt Pryor October 8th, 2015

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Last season, the Dallas Stars missed the playoffs for the sixth time in seven seasons.  A number of factors contributed to what proved to be a disappointing season in Big D: a slow start, poor team defense, even worse goaltending. Over the summer, the Stars said and did all the right things, stressing the need for a fast start to the 2015-16 campaign, bringing in Antti Niemi to challenge Kari Lehtonen in net and addressing team defense from Day One of Training Camp. If the Stars fail to address the primary reason they missed the playoffs last season, though, none of the other changes will matter.

Lindy Ruff at Dallas Stars training camp in Cedar Park, September 2015.(Credit: Michael Connell/Texas Stars Hockey)

Lindy Ruff at Dallas Stars training camp in Cedar Park, September 2015.(Credit: Michael Connell/Texas Stars Hockey)

Dallas finished the 2014-15 season with 92 points, seven points out of the eighth and final playoff spot. Those 92 points left the Stars in sixth place in the Central Division, regarded by many as the toughest division in the NHL. It certainly was toughest for the boys in green, as evidenced by their record in divisional play. More than any other factor, their poor showing against the rest of the Central dashed Dallas’ playoff hopes.

The Importance of Divisional Games

The Stars struggled mightily against divisional opponents, finishing with a record of 8-14-7 against the Central. Their 23 points earned was by far the lowest total in the division, a full seven points behind the second-worst Blackhawks, who went 15-14-0. Seven points was also the difference between the Stars and the playoff-bound Jets. Dallas went 1-3-0 against Winnipeg. Had the Stars racked up three regulation wins over the Jets instead of three losses, they would’ve faced off against the Anaheim Ducks in the first round of the playoffs while Winnipeg watched on TV.

Though some might argue that Dallas’ offseason adjustments are of equal or greater importance than their Central Division record, consider this: Despite the slow start, defense and goaltending issues, the Stars ran up a record of 33-17-3 against non-Central teams. That’s a 107-point pace over a full season, which would’ve been good for second in the division and third in the Western Conference. Simply put, Dallas’ dismal division record did them in.

Win Big, Lose Small

Shawn Horcoff

The Stars must improve on their 0-3-2 record last season against division rival Colorado. (Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)

Under the current playoff format, divisional play is much more important than in years past. Each game represents an opportunity for the Stars to improve their playoff chances (by earning two points) while directly reducing a division rival’s chances (by denying them two points). Just as in poker, the key to success is to win big and lose small. Translated to the ice, Dallas needs to beat Central opponents in regulation and lose in overtime. Considering every team in the Central has a realistic shot at the playoffs in 2015-16, the Stars need to treat all 29 divisional contests as playoff games. In essence, that’s exactly what they are.

The Dallas Stars drop the puck on the 2015-16 season October 8, playing host to the Pittsburgh Penguins. From a practical standpoint, the playoffs begin just two nights later in Colorado. The Stars’ road to the postseason runs through the Central Division. Understanding that in October and adjusting their play accordingly could keep that road from running into another dead end come April.

  • Tags
  • Central Division
  • Stanley Cup Playoffs
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 24th 11:15 AM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs’ Frederik Andersen: Slowly But Surely Finding His Game

Jan 24th 11:00 AM
Archives

Canucks Have an Eye for the Swedes

Jan 24th 10:50 AM
Montreal Canadiens

The Best Canadiens Team Since 1993 Stanley Cup

Jan 24th 10:47 AM
Archives

Bruins’ All-Time Best Draft Picks

Jan 24th 10:25 AM
Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning’s Options to Replace Stephens on the Fourth Line

Jan 24th 9:55 AM
New York Rangers

Rangers’ K’Andre Miller an Early Bright Spot on Defense

Jan 24th 9:45 AM
Buffalo Sabres

Sabres’ Bottom-Six Forward Woes Continue

Jan 24th 9:25 AM
San Jose Sharks

Sharks’ Donato Looking Good Early

Jan 24th 9:15 AM
Vancouver Canucks

Canucks Can Make Quinn Hughes the Team’s Cornerstone

Jan 24th 9:05 AM
Columbus Blue Jackets

Jets’ Trade For Dubois Controversial, But Has Potential to Pay Off

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information