The Dallas Stars are eager to get out of their late-season lull before the playoffs
Losing for the fifth time in six games and a fourth in a row sent the Dallas Stars into an introspective mode. “We’re trying to work hard for the end goal,” forward Colin Blackwell said. Dallas was one of the first two teams to clinch a playoff spot, but that does not mean things are rosy right now.
NEW YORK (AP) — Losing for the fifth time in six games and a fourth in a row sent the Dallas Stars into an introspective mode. They controlled the puck and the play for long stretches in New York against the Islanders but came away with nothing to show for it in a 2-1 loss. “We’re trying to work hard for the end goal,” forward Colin Blackwell said.
“And every team, especially on this road trip, is fighting for their playoff lives — including us. ” Dallas was one of the first two teams to clinch a playoff spot, but that does not mean things are rosy right now. This stretch has exposed some holes in their play, and the final 10 games of the regular season is all about solving those problems before the first round begins the weekend of April 18.
"We’ve got another level, and we need to find it," first-year coach Glen Gulutzan said. “There’s a natural little dip sometimes when you see that ‘X’ beside your name. ...
We’ve got to get out of our lull a little bit because there’s no light switch when you go into the playoffs that you can just turn it on and start playing good. You want to make sure you’re ironing out all the kinks now. ” Right direction Losing to the Islanders on Thursday when opposing goaltender Ilya Sorokin put on a show was a major improvement from Tuesday night, when the Stars let out-of-contention New Jersey score four times in the first period of a 6-4 loss.