After clinching the Central Division title, Dallas Stars have one more chance to prepare for postseason play.
The Stars (51-21-9, 111 points) close their regular season Wednesday night by hosting the St. Louis Blues (43-33-5, 91 points).
It’s possible Dallas will bring injured forward Evgenii Dadonov off the injured list to see game action before the playoffs start. Dadonov hasn’t played since Feb. 10 due to a lower-body fracture.
Defenseman Jani Hakanpaa (lower body) has been ruled out, and a few regulars like goaltender Jake Oettinger could get a game off.
But heading into Tuesday night’s NHL action, the Stars had not yet clinched the top postseason seed in the Western Conference. Vancouver was still in the running heading into their game against Calgary but a Canucks loss would clinch the West for Dallas.
“In a perfect world, Dadonov and Hak, we’d like to get them a game before the playoffs start,” Stars coach Peter DeBoer said. “But depending on the results of other games, we’ve still got things to play for, so the results of other games between now and Wednesday might dictate some of that.”
The Stars will head into postseason play after winning their first division title since 2016 and just their second in 18 years.
“It represents the work that has been done in this room and how the group has progressed over the season. We’re proud of it,” forward Craig Smith said.
“It’s obviously not what we’re after, but it’s definitely a step,” DeBoer said. “You can’t minimize the work put into doing that. Six months ago, starting in training camp in a really good division with a lot of good teams and a lot of adversity along the way. It’s a great step for our group. I’m proud of the accomplishment. We’re looking for more than that.”
Dallas went 1-1-1 against the Blues this season, winning 2-1 in a shootout on Oct. 12 at home, losing 4-3 in overtime at St. Louis on Dec. 16 and losing 2-1 in St. Louis on Dec. 27.
While the Stars are preparing for the postseason, the Blues are preparing for next season and beyond.
“I don’t know if we can hang on our hat on anything because, at the end of the day, we’re not playing for a Stanley Cup,” Blues interim coach Drew Bannister said. “We’re going to be going home early, a lot earlier than we wanted to. I think we’ve learned some valuable lessons over the last two months of playing these games to make us a better team, and hopefully, over the summer, that sinks in with our guys.”
Bannister has been giving extra responsibility to younger players like forwards Zack Bolduc and Zach Dean and defensemen Matt Kessel, Scott Perunovich and Tyler Tucker.
“Every game is obviously important to me, and trying to improve your game and prove that you belong,” Perunovich said.
Of those young players, Dean has the least NHL experience and most yet to prove.
“I think for him, he has to, I don’t know how to say this right, but he has to have more ‘jam’ to his game,” Bannister said. “He has to have more physicality to his game. He has to get inside on guys. Once he learns that aspect of his game, that’ll keep him in the NHL for a long time.”
–Field Level Media
