Going into Tuesday night, the Dallas Stars were in a tough spot.
They were riding a two-game losing skid that included flat performances against the Flyers and Blues, had started a six-game homestand on a losing note, and had completed a trade on Monday for Andrew Cogliano in hopes of boosting their offensive play. In addition, they were also in danger of falling back into the wild card picture after the Colorado Avalanche won on Monday night.
To top it all off, they were preparing to welcome the best team in the NHL to the AAC.