With six wins in their last seven, the Dallas Stars are clawing themselves right back into the playoff race.
“This is the best stretch we’ve had,” coach Lindy Ruff said following Monday’s 3-2 win over the Rangers, per the Dallas Morning News.
“We’re getting a little more consistent every game. We’re playing better away from the puck, which, if we’re going to push our way back in, we have to do. It has been the best stretch. We’ve found ways to win some games, and then we flat-out deserved to win some games.”
Granted, the Stars remain six points behind San Jose for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference; they’ve got a ways to go to make up for their bad start.
Still, where they are today is quite a bit more promising than where they were Dec. 13, less than three weeks ago, when they were 11 points back of the second wild-card spot.
Plus, the Stars have two games in hand on the Sharks.
Dallas can make up even more ground tonight with a winnable home game against Arizona. Meanwhile, the Sharks, who played last night, have a tough challenge on the road in Anaheim.
Related: PHT interviews Jim Nill, who’s ‘not surprised’ by Stars’ early-season struggles