The Stars entered the final week of the NHL season with their fate in their hands.
The team needed just one win in its remaining three games to advance through the competitive Central Division and avoid a first-round clash with rivals Winnipeg and Colorado.
On Saturday, the Stars faced off against the Seattle Kraken in their penultimate game of the season, winning 3-1 and clinching their first division title since the 2015-16 season. Dallas became the first team in the NHL to win the division.
“We'd like to put up a banner that's more important than that, but I'm proud of our players,” Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger said. “Our efforts over the past six months have been truly remarkable.”
The win gives Dallas a chance to win the Western Conference regular-season title if Vancouver loses to Edmonton on Saturday night or the Stars win their final regular-season game against St. Louis on Wednesday. . If the New York Rangers cancel Monday's final game against the Ottawa Senators, Wednesday's game could decide the Presidents Trophy.
The Stars have not won the Western Conference regular season crown since the same 2015-16 season. They haven't won the Presidents Trophy since winning the Stanley Cup in 1998-99.
The Stars pulled away from Seattle on Saturday with goals from Craig Smith and Jason Robertson late in each of the first two periods. Miro Heiskanen had a three-point night and contributed to each of Dallas' goals.
“I think he deserves it,” Stars head coach Pete DeBoer said of Heiskanen, “because I ask him every night to play the amount of game time with the players that he plays, and I ask him to stick around all night. I'll keep the puck on, so I'll just get used to it.” . “When it comes to special nights, you know he’s special almost every night.”
Dallas had just four shots on target in the first period, but took a 1-0 lead with about two seconds left. Smith deflected Robertson's shot, giving his team the advantage at the first intermission.
The Stars almost grabbed a 2-0 advantage midway through the second period when Sam Steele attempted a penalty shot. Kraken defenseman Jamie Oleksiak covered the puck as it entered the crease, and the referee ruled that the whistle sounded before the puck crossed the goal line. This set up a penalty shot for Steele, but Steele was unable to make the shot. Dallas has converted two of four penalty shot attempts this year.
Dallas was unable to capitalize on that penalty, but had success with two other penalties in the second half. The Stars started a power play with less than two minutes remaining after Ryker Evans was called for hooking Wyatt Johnston. Early on that power play, Seattle had a short-handed breakaway, but Brandon Tanev (Chris Tanev's younger brother) ran into Oettinger and was called for goaltender interference, giving Dallas a 5-on-3 lead at 1:38. Gave seconds.
Forty seconds later, Robertson scored. He assisted Smith's goal and scored two goals in the match.
After assisting on the first two goals, Heikkanen scored one of his own midway through the third period to close out the game.
Oettinger came close to getting another shutout, but Kyler Yamamoto added another goal for Seattle with about five minutes remaining. Oettinger made 26 saves on 27 shots.
“It's great to play in front of him,” Heiskanen said. “He makes great saves and saves us a little bit sometimes. When he has that kind of confidence, it's easy for everyone to play in front of him.”
The win guarantees the Stars will start the playoffs at home for at least the first two rounds and host Game 7. Additionally, the number of potential opponents in the first round of the playoffs will be narrowed down to three teams. Only three points separate the Nashville Predators, Los Angeles Kings, and Vegas Golden Knights.
If the postseason started today, the Stars would host Vegas in a rematch of last year's Western Conference Finals. However, the opponent will be officially determined at some point within the next six days.
Stars players said they believe they can handle any opponent assigned to them in the first round. After establishing themselves as division champions and conference favorites, they are gunning for the best chance possible at advancing in the postseason.
“Of course it's great to win, but the work is not done yet,” said Heiskanen. “It's just the first step.”
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