The Dallas Stars entered the 2024 season making little changes after finishing the prior season in the Western Conference Finals. While that may be a good thing given they had a steady playoff run, they ended the season with 108 points and were seventh in the NHL for goals per game. Starting the current year strong with new additions to the team by signing Matt Duchene from the Nashville Predators and making moves for their younger defensemen, the Stars showed up and showed out in their first couple of games leading into the regular season.
It was a no-brainer that Jason Robertson, last year’s lead goal scorer who cleared the bench with 109 points, topping Jamie Benn with 78 and Joe Pavelski with 77 points on the team, was the most looked-at player at the beginning of the season. Robertson has become one of the most exciting players to watch on the ice, being at the top of the league in both goals and assists. He continues to produce and bring pressure on the ice alongside Jake Oettinger, the team’s goalie. Oettinger had a .919 save percentage last season ranking him number four in the league.
In recent games, the team has had a falling from grace, losing their fourth game in a row on the road against the northern teams. The Stars are currently leading the Central Division of the Western Conference with 78 points, which could change soon if they don’t turn things around in their next few games. Before the All-Star break, the Stars were winning more away games than home, now it has flipped and the struggle is obvious. It shows in power plays as well as shutting the opposing team down early. In previous years, the Stars were a feared team when it came to power plays and were ranked highly. Now, there is a loss of dominance when it’s five versus four.
With the NHL season passing its halfway point in the season, there is room for improvement. With the injury list pilling up for the Stars, losing their most score-producing players and having to call up some of their AHL players, there will need to be a quick regroup going into the rest of the season, along with a reality check going into the playoff season now just around the corner.
