Game 56 Afterwords: Capital Punishment

"Hey there, Chicago. Thanks for keeping the top spot in the West warm for us." - Jerome Miron-USA TODAY SportsI was trying to temper my expectations for tonight's game before it started. Sure, the Stars beat the Caps 3-2 back before Thanksgiving, but they didn't face Braden Holtby, and that was back when the Stars were effectively the best team in the NHL. January is still fresh in our collective memory, and it's hard to be confident about Dallas playing the best teams in hockey.

Here's the thing, though: Dallas is one of the top teams in hockey. That may be a product of how unique this season is, or perhaps it's just a consequence of an unsustainable run of 56(!) games. The third option, of…