Stars Aim to Overtake Winnipeg in Final Stretch
With just eight games left in the regular season, the Dallas Stars are focused on surpassing the Winnipeg Jets to secure the top spot in the Central Division.
The Stars extended their winning streak to six games on Monday with a 3-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken, bringing them within four points of Winnipeg. Both teams have played 74 games.
Finishing first in the division would allow Dallas to avoid a first-round playoff matchup against the Colorado Avalanche, who currently sit third in the Central and trail the Stars by eight points, having played one more game. Last season, Dallas eliminated Colorado in six games in the second round before falling to the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Final.
Clinching the top seed would also mean facing the lowest wild-card team, currently the St. Louis Blues, though the Minnesota Wild remain just one point ahead of them. The winner of a potential Jets-Avalanche series would likely await in the second round.
“We’re still trying to catch Winnipeg,” Stars head coach Pete DeBoer said after Monday’s win. “To do that, we probably need to win almost every night, and that’s our goal.”
Duchene Driving Dallas’ Success
Pending free agent Matt Duchene has been a key contributor to the Stars’ strong season, scoring his 29th goal on Monday.
With 75 points in 74 games, Duchene is on pace to finish above a point per game for just the second time in his NHL career.
“[Duchene] has been huge for us all year,” DeBoer said. “In the first half of the season, he was arguably our MVP. Last year, he tailed off a bit late, but this year he’s been steady. Every time he’s on the ice, he’s generating offense.”
The 34-year-old forward signed a one-year, $3 million contract last offseason after being bought out by the Nashville Predators in 2023. He posted 25 goals and 65 points in 80 games last season, adding six points in the playoffs.
Duchene, who is set to become a free agent again alongside team captain Jamie Benn, is currently tied for the team lead in points with winger Jason Robertson.
“There are still areas we need to improve, but we’re moving in the right direction,” Duchene said after Monday’s game. “Results matter, but our focus is on preparing our game for the playoffs.”
A veteran of 1,130 NHL games, Duchene’s deepest playoff run came last season, as he has advanced past the first round just twice since his 2009-10 debut.
