The odd arithmetic of playoff qualification has laid itself out pretty clearly for the Stars after their last three games.
In going 1-0-2, Dallas picked up four of six possible points despite winning just one game. That's the twist in the parity-driven NHL, where you can pick up points even while losing.
But at the heart of that run is math that is a little more logical. The Stars earned those points in defeat by producing a brand of hockey that was significantly improved from what they had been playing.
In those three games against Washington, Minnesota and Buffalo, the Stars averaged 36.