Under normal circumstances, returning to Dallas after a two game road trip, three games into the season with a record of 2-0-1 would be reason to celebrate. Welcome to the season of high expectations.
After taking two games to the shootout, the Dallas Stars survived against a plucky Anaheim Ducks squad. The Stars power play came up big, the the game could have gone either way – and there are strong statistical arguments to make that the Ducks top six outplayed the Stars at even strength.
Saturday’s opponent, the Philadelphia Flyers, on the other hand, are making due with a lineup that was not supposed to put them in playoff contention.