The Dallas Stars have now won three straight games and have risen to second place in the Western Conference standings.
Dallas defeated the New Jersey Devils 4-2 on Saturday in their first game back from a lengthy break before defeating the New York Rangers 4-3 on Sunday in the second game of a back-to-back.
Stars Coach Pete DeBoer said he was proud of his team after the win over the Rangers since playing back-to-back is difficult to manage following an extended break.
“It was a tough game, back-to-back, coming out of the break. I think we ran out of gas in the third period,” he said, per The Stars.
“They pushed hard. Sometimes, you have to win games in different ways in this league, and tonight it was a couple of big power-play goals and a couple of big saves at the right time.”
These wins have helped Dallas climb to second place in the Western Conference standings. Dallas trails the Winnipeg Jets by seven points for sole possession of the top spot.
Dallas will have to keep stacking wins over the coming weeks. The team is fewer than five points ahead of the Las Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild, and Edmonton Oilers and could quickly fall in the standings.
Stars goalie Jake Oettinger said Sunday night that these wins will help the team learn how to be prepared for the playoffs, which are scheduled to begin in less than two months.
“Hopefully, we can learn from all of the chaotic ends to games,” he explained, per The Stars.
“That’s how playoffs are, and hopefully we can have a group that can win those types of games in the playoffs.”
Dallas will have one more road matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets before traveling back to American Airlines Center for four straight home games.