The Dallas Stars fell to the Nashville Predators in another failed comeback attempt and are now on a three game losing streak. The Stars are still looking for their first win of 2024.

It isn't usually too worrisome to lose a couple games before the midway point of the season, but the Central Division has been a tight race since the beginning of the season.

The Stars are in a tough spot at a tough time. The games are coming thick and fast and Dallas is two losses in to a six game stretch of only Central Division opponents. Scott Wedgewood has been forced to start 10 in a row, and the Miro Heiskanen injury sets Dallas on an uncharted path moving forward defensively.

Since Pete DeBoer has taken over as the head coach in Dallas, the Stars have not gone three straight games without gaining a point. And although they have lost the last three games, this still rings true as the Stars got a point from going to overtime with the Colorado Avalanche. 

However, what was a one point difference between the top three spots in the Central has now widened a bit and the Stars find themselves only four points away from Nashville, who holds the first wild card spot.

1. Concerning Defensive Holes

With Miro Heiskanen out, the Stars had to decide how they wanted to delegate the work load. 

The first answer to that was playing Thomas Harley a lot and with everyone. Outside of the game Heiskanen was injured, this is the most time on ice Harley has seen. He finished the game with 24:23. 

Nils Lundkivst, who averages a little over 14 minutes a game, finished the game with just under 19 minutes of ice time. Lundkvist has been working to earn the trust of the coaching staff all year and there's no better time than now to make his case.

But Lundkvist was the least of their worries against Nashville. The Esa Lindell and Jani Hakanpaa pairing was on ice for every single goal against. The shutdown defensemen have anchored the Stars penalty kill all season but their results left a lot to be desired Saturday.

Heiskanen is going to be out for an extended period of time, and Dallas still has to find a better solution to their defensive pairings. Because of cap restraints, the Stars are very limited in calling anyone up from the AHL to get some possible relief, and the defensive cupboard isn't stacked with players ready to break out in the NHL either. For now, it looks like the current six defensemen will have to make it work.

2. Scott Wedgewood needs a break 

Saturday's match up against Nashville was Wedgewood's 10th start in a row. During that time he is 5-3-2, but before the New Year, Wedgewood was 5-1-1. 

Through no fault of his own, it seems as though the extended play has taken a toll on him.

His last three starts, he has allowed four or more goals and his save percentage for those games is at .816%. 

Dallas has Matt Murray, called up from the Texas Stars, backing up Wedgewood. Murray has not gotten a NHL start this season, but started in three games last season, only winning one.

The Stars have played some tough opponents and division rivals, which is probably why they felt like they couldn't give Wedgewood a break, but this decision seems like a necessary one.

Every game post Christmas has been a big one for one reason or another. There's a legitimate argument as to whether he should have gotten some rest in the third period on New Year's Eve, but that's one of the Stars biggest home games of the year. 

The Montreal game could have been another potential start to squeeze in Murray for a game, since the Habs were low in the standings and an Eastern Conference team, but once again it was a home game, and the team doesn't want to disappoint the fans.

Now, in the midst of this long stretch against Central opponents, does Murray get a start Monday in Minnesota? It's the first road game since Dec. 27 but it's a crucial game to try and stop this losing streak.

If not Monday, the Stars are staring down a back-to-back on Friday and Saturday, including in Chicago the second night. Murray's only win last year was in that building, so will we see him then? Will Oettinger be ready to return by then?

3. The Stars love to stress you out

Aside from the 8-1 New Year's Eve drubbing of the Chicago Blackhawks, every game since Dec. 15 has been a one goal game. That's a total of 12 since Dec. 1 and the trend continued against the Preds Saturday.

The good news is that no matter how many goals the Stars find themselves down by, there is always hope. The team showed that Tuesday, nearly clawing back from three down, and Saturday, erasing one two goal deficit to the Preds and nearly doing the same in the third period.

On the other hand, the Stars have struggled to hang on to leads and close out games while ahead. That was evident on Thursday, when the Avalanche wiped out a two goal lead for the Stars in the third.

The NHL is as competitive as ever, and it takes a fight to win each and every game. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Dallas Stars site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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