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The standings right now feel a bit like the “Day Trading… industry. One blink and everything can move around. If you missed that “bubble burst…, this was like high stakes stock brokerage. Fast transactions with no real long term goal that could end in disaster. (Now we call it Crypto).
The Stars sit at 60 points in the west which sits them in 3rd in the Central behind Winnipeg and Colorado. The stats between Detroit and Dallas look very similar. Both at 22% on the power play, Dallas has an 85%PK (3rd) to Detroit at 81% (14th). The overall goal differential has Dallas at +29 and Detroit at +11. The Wings have been getting solid goaltending and will need to play “the full 60… (cliche, but true) as Jim Nill’s club can be a handful.
Toronto, Detroit and Tampa have 54, 53 and 53 points respectively. There’s some more separation as Montreal sits at 45 but the top of the Atlantic still seems solidly occupied by Boston and Florida at 67 and 60 points. So it’s a three team race for 3rd at the moment. Detroit’s proximity to Toronto and Tampa is probably more than a little frustrating to the two clubs.
Dallas seems to be able to grab a lead and wear down the club at times. It’s another game vs. a post season bound team during a challenging stretch. Kane hasn’t skated with the team yet and comments from LaLonde indicated that the welcome addition may not be back on the ice until after the all star break.
This is another game where contributions from Sprong, Copp and possibly a defender could go a long way toward another much hoped for victory to stay in the race. Dallas can run you over (and nearly break your neck) so Detroit may need to be ready to muck up the ice a bit. Let me know your thoughts on what the team needs to do and what you’re looking for from the Stars. It’s going to be a tough stretch through February and the Wings success will ultimately decide the trade deadline decisions.