Hi there! It is December 15th, and Vegas is two points shy of leading the Western Conference, the Penguins are out of a playoff spot, the Devils are keeping pace with the Capitals, and the Stars are just, just barely, in the 8th and final playoff spot in the West. We are primarily concerned with that last one.
You can couch the discussion in a couple of ways. Things are dreadful because the Stars ought to be better! Or, things are Good because they could be much worse! The middle way is usually the safest, but then again, middling is hardly a complimentary word, isn’t it?