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Dallas Stars Complete Sweet 16 in Dramatic Fashion

The Dallas Stars nab the last remaining spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs

By Clyde E. DawkinsPublished 2 years ago 4 min read
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Five games took place on the evening of Wednesday, April 27, 2022, but to hockey fans all over the continent, only two took place. One of them featured the Vegas Golden Knights and the Chicago Blackhawks, and the other featured the Arizona Coyotes and the Dallas Stars. One playoff spot remained, and the scenario was a simple one: if Dallas earned so much as a point, they were in the playoffs. It seemed like Dallas would get two points; they had a 3-0 lead over the lowly Coyotes, while Vegas was in a back and forth game against Chicago. Dallas could also get in with a Vegas loss, but Vegas was in a 3-3 tie, and somehow, so was Dallas.

Even so, the clock was on Dallas' side, as simply getting to overtime would get them the point they needed. Meanwhile, Vegas picked up a point when they went to overtime, and they ended up going to a shootout. As the shootout commenced in the Windy City, time was winding down in Dallas. Down to two minutes, then one, then 30 seconds, while the shootout saw nothing go in. The clock in Dallas stopped at 7.5 seconds, but when those final ticks went down, the game was still tied. You know what that means. Dallas got the point, and the last playoff spot, while the eliminated Knights were still in their shootout, which they lost seconds later.

Dallas ended up losing their game, but they still got the point they needed. For the Stars, this is their 3rd playoff appearance in four seasons, beginning with the 2019 showing, which saw them make it to Game 7 of the Elite Eight, only to be defeated in double overtime by the eventual Stanley Cup Champions, the St. Louis Blues. The 2020 bubble was a dream run, as Dallas made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final, but couldn't defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the shortened season that followed saw Dallas narrowly finish behind the Predators in the localized Central Division, and miss the playoffs entirely.

Jason Robertson: Dallas' best kept secret

What is it with Dallas and budding surprise superstars lately? The Dallas Cowboys had Micah Parsons, and the Stars have Jason Robertson, who has been tearing it up this season. Joe Pavelski has been leading the way with 81 points (27 G/54 A), but it's Robertson who has really emerged as Dallas' unsung hero. He is leading the team with 40 goals this season; yes, Robertson's up there with players like Kyle Connor, Alex Ovechkin (who has 51), and the 60-goal man himself, Auston Matthews, among the 40+ goal scorers this season. His 78 points are second behind Pavelski, Roope Hintz is third with 71 points (37 G/34 A), and it's John Klingberg leading Dallas blueliners with 47 points (6 G/41 A)

However, there are some suspect Plus/Minuses on the team. The definition of that stat is simple. If a player scores an even strength or shorthanded goal, it's a Plus. If a player picks up an even strength or shorthanded assist, it's a Plus. If a player is on the ice for his teammates' even strength or shorthanded goals or assists, that's a Plus for them. If you're on the ice when said goals are given up, that's a Minus. Klingberg's Plus/Minus is an atrocious -28, the lowest on the team. In fact, he's one of five players with -20 or lower rating, with one of them being Tyler Seguin (-21).

Dallas is one of the lowest scoring teams in the league with an average of 2.83, the lowest of the NHL's Sweet 16. Despite this, their power play percentage of 22.3 is 12th in the league, though their penalty kill percentage of 78.9 is just below the middle of the pack. Dallas has scored seven shorthanded goals, and while three of them belong to Hintz, Robertson (ironically) hasn't scored any.

Jake Oettinger is in his first season as Dallas' lead goaltender

This season has seen Jake Oettinger thrust into the goaltender spotlight, after platooning with Anton Khudobin, who led the Stars during their Cup Final run in 2020. Oettinger's numbers: 29-15-1, 2.54 GAA, .915 SV%, and a shutout. Backing up Oettinger was Braden Holtby, a former Stanley Cup Champion with the Washington Capitals in 2018, and he went 10-10-1 with a 2.78 GAA and a .913 SV% before going on the long-term injured reserve (LTIR). The Stars picked up Scott Wedgewood in a deadline deal, and so far, he's 3-1-3 with a 3.05 GAA, but he has the same SV% as Holtby, and does have a shutout during his brief stint with Dallas. Overall, Dallas has a GAA of 2.94, which is dangerously high for a team who isn't that explosive on offense.

The NHL's Sweet 16 is complete! All that is left to decide is seeding and matchups, and regarding the Dallas Stars, they will serve as one of the Western Conference's Wild Cards, with the other being the Nashville Predators. The Stars and Preds will jockey for position, as the 1st Wild Card will face the Calgary Flames in the Pacific Division Semifinals, while the 2nd Wild Card will remain in the Central Division half of the Western Conference bracket, and face the Colorado Avalanche.

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About the Creator

Clyde E. Dawkins

I am an avid fan of sports and wrestling, and I've been a fan of female villains since the age of eight. Also into film and TV, especially Simpsons and Family Guy.

Feel free to follow my social media:

Twitter - Facebook - Tiktok - Instagram

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