The New York Rangers, Colorado Avalanche, and Chicago Blackhawks will visit the Dallas Stars this week as they get a three-game homestand underway. But what do these three opponents have in common?
Though the three have significantly different recent histories and are spread all across the NHL map, they currently share one common trait at the tail end of the 2018-19 season. That trait is desperation.
Unlike during their recent road trip where the Stars took on some of the top teams in the league, this homestand offers a new challenge.
As of Tuesday morning, the Rangers, Blackhawks, and Avalanche all sit outside of their respective conference playoff picture.