When the Dallas Stars returned to the ice for practice following the NHL Holiday Break on Dec. 27, there was an uncharacteristically different vibe surrounding the team.
After building a six-week stretch of positivity, dominance, and confidence that included an 18-4-3 streak to counter a rough 1-7-1 start to the year, the Stars had fallen into a 1-3-0 skid. They had given up 17 goals over the span and had been shredded in the defensive zone and while shorthanded, two areas that have been consistent strengths for the team since the beginning of the 2018-19 season.