• 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

Stars Adopting Winning Mindset During Streak

By David Harris November 26th, 2019

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

The Dallas Stars are the hottest team in the NHL. After tying their franchise winning streak record of seven games on Monday, they have the attention of the hockey world. While experts may look to the ice to explain the Stars’ turnaround, they need to also look off the ice. 

Dallas is beating teams before they even put their skates on. Head coach Jim Montgomery talked to the media about the team’s win streak Monday after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2:

“We don’t want to get too excited and pat ourselves on the back,” Montgomery said. “We got to get better, because there’s certain parts of our game that need to.”

"There's a confidence on the bench. There's a lot of different people stepping up, saying the right things. Players are pushing each other which is nice to see." – Monty#VGKvsDAL | #GoStars pic.twitter.com/apTpMbGFVD

— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) November 26, 2019

That sounds like something New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick would say, but Montgomery’s comments are a reflection of the locker room. The Stars are taking the same approach as several other winning teams have done in the past. They aren’t satisfied. “Players are pushing each other, which is nice to see,” Montgomery said.

Inside the Locker Room

After a career-high night in assists, defenseman John Klingberg said the Stars are staying hungry on the power play. He also said his team is playing with a lot of confidence right now, but believes they still have things to work on. 

“I can tell it’s a different team from now and when I got injured,” Klingberg said. “We got to keep doing the right thing here and keep building.”

Dallas Stars Roman Polak Vancouver Canucks Bo Horvat Anton Khudobin
Dallas Stars’ Roman Polak tries to clear Vancouver Canucks centre Bo Horvat from in front of Dallas Stars goaltender Anton Khudobin (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

Klingberg is right. They are a far cry from the team that started the season 1-7-1. The Stars are taking more shots, shutting down the opposition, and are contesting every puck along the boards.

The locker room has the right attitude because successful teams know there’s still work to be done. The ultimate goal is still far off, and staying hungry is only part of the equation. The Stars are also paying attention to details. Forward Alexander Radulov, who had two goals and an assist Monday, told the media that the game against the Golden Knights was going to be decided by special teams.

“Second period, we picked up a few penalties we shouldn’t have taken but I mean the guys battled,” Radulov said. “We just gotta keep rolling, keep working. Tomorrow is another big test for us.”

"The Stars could have numbers…" and you can probably figure out what happened next 😏

JASON DICKINSON SCORES! The @DallasStars restore their two-goal lead!#GoStars pic.twitter.com/zciDIOYfdV

— FOX Sports Southwest (@FOXSportsSW) November 26, 2019

Special teams have been clutch for the Stars of late. They are 15 for 15 on the penalty kill over their four game home stand. Stopping their opponents dead in their tracks is adding to the team’s confidence. Montgomery said that on the penalty kill the team was playing more cohesively:

Related: Stars’ Lindell Shining Bright on Penalty Kill

“I think there’s a lot more emotion to our game and I think we’re playing a lot faster,” Montgomery said.

That speed can be seen on the defensive side of the ice where the Stars are winning the forecheck and are adding additional pressure to their opponents. The reason is something every athlete has been coached, hustle.

“Everybody’s working,” Radulov said. “Everybody played a good, solid game.”

Matt Murray, Alexander Radulov
Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Matt Murray stops Dallas Stars right wing Alexander Radulov. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

When Radulov says everybody, he does mean everybody. Another element of the Stars’ mindset is teamwork, which has helped bring captain Jamie Benn back to form and is making everyone on the team look like an All-Star. 

15 different Dallas Stars skaters have scored a goal since Oct. 19. And though they were hit with another early wave of injuries (including long-term ones to Roope Hintz and John Klingberg), they somehow look better with each passing game.

Josh Clark | Fansided | Nov. 21, 2019.

Thursday night against the Winnipeg Jets, things were tied and the game was getting late, Benn delivered a monumental piece of leadership. Benn gave a massive hit and then went end-to-end chasing a puck that would be the game-winning goal.

“He was all over the puck,” Stars coach Jim Montgomery said about his captain Thursday. “He was refusing to let us lose.”

The road ahead is going to be tough. The Stars face the Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues, Minnesota Wild, Winnipeg Jets (twice), and the New York Islanders. They will need to continue to energize this mindset in order to continue their unbelievable winning ways.

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 16th 6:10 PM
Hockey History

25 Best Senators’ Memories From 25 Years at Canadian Tire Centre

Jan 16th 6:00 PM
Anaheim Ducks

Ducks Prospects: Colangelo, Andersson, Drew & More

Jan 16th 5:50 PM
Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks Need Taxi Squad to Drive Better Results in Net

Jan 16th 5:40 PM
Women's Hockey

Toronto Six 2021 Season Preview

Jan 16th 5:30 PM
Winnipeg Jets

Jets Have a lot of Options to Deal With Laine

Jan 16th 5:20 PM
Dallas Stars

Stars’ COVID-19 Cases Could Cost Them

Jan 16th 4:25 PM
Column

Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Campbell, Andersen, Tavares & Robertson

Jan 16th 4:15 PM
Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning Look to Benefit From Week Off

Jan 16th 3:05 PM
Montreal Canadiens

Josh Anderson’s Canadiens Debut Should Make Marc Bergevin Proud

Jan 16th 2:55 PM
Other Leagues

OHL Would Benefit From 24-Game Season

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

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