The Dallas Stars have won three straight games, helping the team accumulate a record of 11-5 on the season. This puts them in fifth place in the Western Conference, with an opportunity to move up this week.
The Stars were hot to open the season and quickly began to pick up losses as their schedule became more difficult, but this winning streak might be an indication that the team has begun to find its stride.
Dallas picked up blowout wins against the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Bruins before securing a close 2-1 win against the Minnesota Wild in a divisional matchup that could have important implications in the future.
Stars defenseman Matt Dumba said after the game that divisional matchups are tough but he is proud of the team for stepping up and securing a difficult win to help them continue their climb up the standings.
“I’ve been in this division my whole career,” he said, per NHL.com.
“It doesn’t get easier. You have to claw and scrape and these division games are huge, four point games. You get these in regulation, you take them and you move on to the next one.”
This win moved the Stars past the Vancouver Canucks for the fifth seed in the Western Conference with 25 points this season, though Dallas is also trailing multiple teams ahead in the standings by a close margin and could jump even further in upcoming games.
Although the Winnipeg Jets hold a substantial lead for first place in the conference with 30 points, the Stars trail the Wild by just three points for second place and could move ahead if the current winning streak continues into next week.
Stars forward Mason Marchment said the team is glad to be playing well after a difficult stretch of games, but they are focusing on ways to improve while staying consistent in every game.
“I think we’re taking one game at a time now, especially after that Winnipeg game where we definitely didn’t have our best,” he said, as reported by NH.com.
“Every night, we’ve been playing better and better and better, just trying to have a complete game. It’s good to get back to our game and play the right way,” Marchment added.
Dallas will have the chance to continue their win streak with two straight home matchups against the Anaheim Ducks on Monday and the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday at 7 p.m.