The Dallas Stars are set to take on the Winnipeg Jets tonight in a game that could have important consequences for the playoff seeding.
Dallas is currently in second place in the Western Conference with an overall record of 50-22 and trails the Jets by only four points for the top spot.
This matchup is incredibly important since the Stars still have an opportunity to overtake the Jets for first place. A regulation win would grant two points, and a regulation loss would provide zero.
Dallas and the Jets each have only four games remaining in the season before this game, with the Stars needing to outpace the Jets by one full game to have a shot at the conference title.
The Stars have struggled in recent games following a stretch of winning for this team. Dallas rattled off seven straight wins before their most recent performances to keep the race for first place close.
However, three straight losses have made this task much more difficult, as Dallas has received just two points in the last three games to slow down the comeback attempt.
Each of these losses included the Stars blowing a lead in the third quarter, with the team previously holding a record of 35-1-1 in these situations before this stretch, per NHL.com.
Dallas is coming off a difficult matchup early in the week against the Vancouver Canucks in which the Stars allowed three goals in the final minute to tie the game before losing in overtime.
Stars captain Jamie Benn said the team’s performance was “unacceptable,” noting that this was a game that the team should have won in regulation.
“The game should’ve been wrapped up. We just have to find a way to get it done there,” he added, per NHL.com.
Stars Head Coach Pete DeBoer said the team will be disappointed if that loss keeps them from a conference title, but the best option now is to move forward and focus on the upcoming game.
“Thankfully it’s not a playoff game. Hopefully we learn from it,” he said, per NHL.com.
“It will be unfortunate if it costs us a chance at a conference title, but sometimes you have to learn hard lessons. It’s on us to respond the right way. We’ve got the biggest game of the year on Thursday night. It’s going to be a great test of our character to see how we respond.”