The temperatures may be dropping in Texas, but the Dallas Stars are heating up at just the right time. With a recent win over the St.
Louis Blues, the Stars are looking to build some serious momentum heading into the Olympic break. And they'll have a chance to do just that-with two more matchups against the Blues on the schedule before the pause in NHL action.
It’s not often you see a team face the same opponent three times in such a short span, but that’s the hand the Stars were dealt this season. And frankly, it might work in their favor. Familiarity can breed opportunity-especially for a team trying to fine-tune its game before sending a chunk of its roster off to Milan.
Between now and the Olympic break, the Stars have five games left, all against Western Conference opponents: the Blues, the Vegas Golden Knights, the Utah Mammoth, and the Winnipeg Jets. That’s a tough stretch, especially with playoff positioning on the line.
Dallas currently sits as the third-best team in the conference, but there's little room for error. These next few games aren't just about keeping pace-they're about making a statement.
This is not the time to coast. Every point matters, and with the Olympic break looming, the Stars need to stay sharp.
That means ramping up the offensive pressure, generating more shots on goal, and capitalizing on special teams-especially the power play. If Dallas can find consistency in those areas, they’ll not only head into the break with confidence, but they’ll also send a message to the rest of the West.
What makes this stretch even more compelling is that every team the Stars are facing is in a similar spot. They’re all playoff contenders, and they’re all preparing to send key players to the Olympics.
In total, 27 players across these teams are set to represent their countries in Milan-including six for Team USA. Among them is Stars netminder Jake Oettinger, who’ll be anchoring the crease for the red, white, and blue.
That shared Olympic focus adds an intriguing layer to these upcoming games. Players are juggling two priorities: finishing strong for their NHL squads while also preparing mentally and physically for the international stage. It’s a balancing act, and how well teams manage that could define how they emerge from this final pre-break stretch.
For fans, this is a unique time on the hockey calendar. Right now, it’s all about the NHL grind-cheering for your team, keeping tabs on the standings, and hoping your stars stay healthy.
But soon, the focus will shift. The Olympic anthem will play, the torch will be lit, and suddenly, those familiar rivals become teammates under the same flag.
Players like Jack Eichel (Golden Knights) and Kyle Connor (Jets)-foes for now-will be key figures for Team USA in just a few short weeks.
Once the Olympic flame is extinguished, it’ll be back to business in the NHL. But until then, there’s still plenty of hockey to enjoy. The Stars have work to do, and the next five games could go a long way in setting the tone for the second half of the season.
So bundle up, Dallas. The ice may be cold, but the action is just starting to heat up.