RALEIGH, N.C. -- The walls of the Western Conference are narrowing, the gaps are tightening, the schedule thinning, and the Stars are -- for the first time in nearly a month -- flirting with the dividing line between securing a playoff berth and another missed postseason.
The Stars finished their road trip with a 3-0 loss to Carolina on Saturday night, and have now lost four of their past five games after a promising five-game win streak. They’ve watched the Blues pass them in the Central Division. They’ve seen the void of the ninth-place spot in the West creep closer.