And so it starts.
Learning a new system, dealing with a decimated defensive group, and trying to find a team identity. All things that have happened over the first half of the season. And here, for once, the NHL schedulers helped out the Dallas Stars. Of the first 42 games, only eight have been against Central Division rivals.
For the rest of the season, that means that more than four out of every 10 games will be potential four-point swings. Since realignment, Dallas has made the playoffs twice. Both times in the years when they have had a winning record within the Central.