Let’s rewind to March 25, 2018 for a second. It’s a Sunday afternoon and the Dallas Stars are in serious trouble.
The Stars are in the midst of a seven-game losing streak (0-5-2) and have watched their playoff hopes transition from probable to doubtful in a span of 14 days. After putting together a winless road trip, they are back home for game two of a three-game homestand. Their opponent? A struggling Vancouver Canucks team that has been far behind in the playoff race for a while.
A win was not only needed, but also crucial to keep the Stars’ hopes alive.