Dallas Stars Enter Crucial Stretch Needing to Reclaim Early-Season Form
A month ago, the Dallas Stars looked like a team built for a deep postseason run. They were steady, structured, and sitting comfortably near the top of the Western Conference.
But since the holiday break, the wheels haven’t exactly fallen off - they’ve just started to wobble. And now, with five games left before the NHL pauses for the Winter Olympics in Milan, the Stars find themselves in a critical stretch that could shape the rest of their season.
From Contenders to Question Marks
Before Christmas, Dallas had positioned itself as the clear No. 2 in the Central Division - not quite on Colorado’s level, but certainly in the conversation. Since then, though, it’s been a different story.
The Stars have gone 4-7-3 since the break, sliding into third place in the Central with 67 points - one behind the surging Minnesota Wild. That total still ranks sixth in the league, but it doesn’t feel like it in Big D.
Not after how strong the first half looked.
The numbers tell the story: Dallas has struggled to generate offense, scoring more than two goals in just two of their last seven games. That’s not going to cut it in a conference filled with high-powered attacks. And with the Wild gaining momentum, the Stars are suddenly looking over their shoulders instead of ahead toward the Avalanche.
The Next Five: A Defining Stretch
The Stars have five games left before the Olympic break, and they matter - not just in the standings, but in the psyche of this team. A rough patch leading into a three-week pause could do more damage mentally than it does on the standings page. That’s why this next stretch is about more than just points - it’s about regaining rhythm and confidence.
It starts Tuesday in St. Louis, then continues with two tough road tests: Thursday in Las Vegas and Sunday in Utah.
Those aren’t exactly get-right games. The Golden Knights and Utah have combined to go 16-3-1 over their last 20, with Vegas leading the Pacific Division and Utah sitting as the West’s top wild card.
Meanwhile, Minnesota - the team Dallas is now chasing - has a lighter slate, with home games against Chicago and Calgary before heading to Edmonton. If the Wild snag five points from those three games and Dallas only manages two in its own trio, the standings could take a sharp turn. A four-point gap might not sound massive, but with the way Dallas has been trending, it would feel like a chasm.
And that’s before we even get to the final two games before the break: back-to-back home matchups against Winnipeg and St. Louis.
Those could become must-win scenarios if Dallas doesn’t right the ship beforehand. With the season nearing its two-thirds mark, the margin for error is shrinking.
A Glimmer of Hope
There is some good news for Dallas fans. Mikko Rantanen made his return in Friday’s win over the Blues, and his presence - and his 63 points - gives the Stars’ offense a much-needed jolt. Lian Bischel is also trending toward a return before the break, which would help stabilize the blue line.
And while Dallas has to worry about Minnesota, they’re also keeping an eye on the Mammoth, who aren’t far behind. The Mammoth’s upcoming schedule is brutal: four games in six days, all against playoff-caliber teams - Tampa Bay, Florida, Carolina, and Dallas. That’s not a stretch you want to be navigating while trying to climb the standings.
If Dallas can take care of business and pull at least six points from these final five games, they’ll head into the break on steadier ground. It won’t erase the post-Christmas slump, but it’ll stop the bleeding and give them a chance to reset.
What It All Means
This isn’t panic time - not yet. But the Stars are no longer chasing the Avalanche.
They’re trying to hold off the Wild and keep the Mammoth at bay. That’s a shift in mindset, and it’s one that underscores just how important the next week-plus will be.
There’s still a lot to like about this Dallas team. The structure, the depth, the goaltending - it’s all there.
But the NHL season is a grind, and right now, the Stars are in one of those stretches that tests a team’s resolve. How they respond could tell us everything we need to know about their playoff potential.