With one regular season game left, the Stars still have a shot at wrapping up a Western Conference title.
With one regular season game left, the Stars still have a shot at wrapping up a Western Conference title.
If you enjoy exciting playoff races that go down to the wire, you're in luck.
The 2023-24 NHL regular season is in its final week, and several playoff positions are still up for grabs.
Heading into Monday night, the Dallas Stars were one point behind the New York Rangers in the race for the President's Trophy. A Rangers loss to the Ottawa Senators would have given the Stars a chance to overtake them with a win over the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday.
The Rangers, however, dashed those hopes by shutting out the Senators 4-0, earning their fourth President's Trophy in franchise history.
Dallas, who captured its first Central Division title since 2015-16, still has the Western Conference crown in its sights. As of Tuesday, the Stars (51-21-9, 111 points) have a four-point edge over the Vancouver Canucks (49-22-8, 107 points) for top bragging rights in the Western Conference.
Vancouver needs to win its remaining two games against the Calgary Flames Tuesday and Winnipeg Jets Thursday to have a shot at catching the Stars. All Dallas has to do is pick up a point against the Blues, and the West is theirs.
The Stars' first-round matchup is still yet to be determined. If the playoffs started today, Dallas would face the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights in the first round. That could change if the Stars win Wednesday and Vegas wins its final two games against the Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks. In that case, the Los Angeles Kings would be the Stars' first-round opponent.
Coaches are often faced with the decision of whether to rest their No. 1 goalie and other key players after clinching, as opposed to getting them accustomed to a playoff schedule. Stars coach Pete DeBoer prefers the latter, particularly with goalie Jake Oettinger.
"It's something we discuss every day," DeBoer said at practice on Friday. "We want to get (Oettinger) in a playoff rhythm, which is an every-other-day rhythm. We feel like (backup goalie Scott) Wedgewood has played a lot this year because of Jake's injury and other situations probably more than we anticipated. We all feel like he's fresh... I think right now our mindset is let's get him used to that every-other-day rhythm that he's going to have to get into starting in the first round of the playoffs."
As thrilling as a playoff race can be, players claim they don't spend a lot of time scoreboard watching, whether it's clinching a division or vying for the President's Trophy.
"Me personally, no," Stars forward Mason Marchment said last Tuesday following the Stars' 3-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. "I try not to worry about that stuff and let it take care of itself. Maybe we're over playing and it's something I look at a bit more, but (we) just keep playing and we're on a roll right now. Everyone's pulling their weight, and it's fun."
That doesn't undermine the importance of such milestones, especially considering home ice advantage is on the line. As of now, the Stars have secured that for the first two rounds of the playoffs.
"It's huge, it's a first step," forward Craig Smith said Saturday on capturing the division. "I think it represents the work that's been done in this room and how the group has progressed over the season. It's a huge plateau, and we're proud of it."
Division and conference titles are fine, but they don't compare to the ultimate objective: hoisting a Stanley Cup
"Those are things you're going to look back and reflect on, hopefully with a Stanley Cup," DeBoer said Wednesday. If it's not with a Stanley Cup, that doesn't diminish the fact what this group has accomplished during the season."
Make sure you bookmark THN's Dallas Stars site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
Stars Sign Finnish Forward to Entry-level Contract
Highlight Hat Trick: A Bobblehead Goal, Smith Breaks a Drought, Miro Magic
Jim Nill Named Associate GM for 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off
Hold the Champagne - Stars Must Wait to Clinch Central division
- undefined