DALLAS _ If you're looking for a reason Stars management and players still believe they have a chance to make a run at the playoffs, it was all over the ice Saturday in a 5-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.
Dallas scored early, played smart, protected a lead and beat a hungry team battling for playoff positioning.
"They're a tough team to play against. They skate fast, they have a lot of skill, great goaltending and a mobile D," said forward Patrick Eaves, who had two goals. "We made a lot of great little plays. They're coached the right way, so they're always above you. So, for us to do it against a team like that, it shows what we can do."
Of course, if you're looking for a reason fans are so frustrated by a Stars team that sits at 22-24-10 and still has a ways to go to get into the conversation for a wild-card playoff spot, then that was all over the ice, as well. If this squad has the potential to play like that, why hasn't it done so more often?
"We've shown it more than once this year, that's why it's frustrating we can't string a winning streak together," said Stars captain Jamie Benn, who had two assists. "We need to bring an effort like that every night, so we have no excuse."
The yin and yang of the 2016-17 season has been confusing. Are the Stars finally healthy enough to put together a run when they have won three consecutive games only once? Is there enough residue from last year's Central Division championship to believe a miraculous comeback is possible?
Those who cling to hope were buoyed Saturday.
Dallas was fantastic in transition, scoring three first-period goals, and also created some good breaks by playing with confidence and speed.
Rookie defenseman Esa Lindell read a play perfectly, led a two-on-one and scored 51 seconds into the game. Then, the line of Benn, Eaves and Cody Eakin took off on a rush and pinballed in the second goal of the game. Then, fourth-liner Curtis McKenzie banked in a shot off a Carolina defender 22 seconds later, and American Airlines Center was going crazy for a matinee game.
It was both shocking and completely expected. The Stars had found a way to lose four straight games they could have won, so why not finally put all of the good things into a victory?
"Finally we got a little bit of puck luck. I hope we didn't use it all up in one game," Stars coach Lindy Ruff said. "We've talked about finishing and getting the bounce here and there, but it hasn't come our way. The effort was good, but you have to get a little bit of luck at the same time, and today I thought we got that."
So can the Stars persuade the fates to be a little kinder? The coaching staff did after all make some adjustments that improved the lineup, and the players did execute better in specific situations.
Kari Lehtonen stopped Jeff Skinner on two point-blank chances late in the first period, a time when the Stars have found a way to stumble in the past. And when Carolina rallied on a third-period power play to cut the deficit to 4-2 with almost 15 minutes remaining, Adam Cracknell put in a hard-working goal to calm nerves and make a strong statement that this game would be different.
And, to be honest, it's not like the Stars haven't had good games before. They have flashed signs of their potential but just haven't done it consistently. But with Benn looking like the Art Ross Trophy winner again (he has seven goals and seven assists for 14 points in his last 11 games), and the fourth line of Cracknell, McKenzie and Brett Ritchie looking like a potential game-changer, who knows what the possibilities are?
One thing's for sure, everyone will find out quickly as Dallas plays Sunday at Nashville, Tuesday at Winnipeg and Thursday at Minnesota. If this team wants to make a statement, now is the time.
"We need to play better on the road," Benn said of a 7-15-4 record. "The last two we had were close, but weren't good enough."
And the Stars showed Saturday that they can be better.
