First shift 🏒
Since 2022, the Stars have had the best road record in the NHL.
Dallas is 80-38-16 and also leads the league in road scoring with 3.40 and road GAA with 2.87. They are second this season in points percentage with a 7-1-3 record.
So what makes this team so good? Well, there’s a defensive culture within the team, there’s consistent goaltending and there’s a culture of playing well every night.
“I think we’re pretty good overall, home and on the road, so that helps,” forward Robertson said. “But yeah, we definitely try to be consistent and do things the same way every game, and I think that shows in the standings.”
Ironically, this has been a bit of an inconsistent season in the NHL – including the Stars. They recovered from two-goal deficits in four different games and were one of the better scoring teams in the third period. They rallied despite using several different formations.
But even that was a good thing.
“We’ve adopted the mantra that we have to score points,” coach Glen Gulutzan said of a universal philosophy that applies very well on the road. “Our guys have worked hard, and I think that makes a difference.”
Previous road trips have all consisted of one or two players, but this current one has four. This can be a challenge. Dallas is still without Thomas Harley, Ilya Lyubudhkin, Nils Lundkvist, Duchene and Rantanen (for one game). So playing back-to-back games in Edmonton and Vancouver is a challenge.
But Benn’s return and the players learning from each other can help.
“There’s something about being on the road with the boys…being all together and having dinner or playing cards,” Benn said. “It’s a lot of fun, we enjoy each other’s company and I’d like to think that reflects in our performance on the ice.”
It certainly can’t hurt. Sam Steel said he noticed the team’s culture when he joined the team a few years ago, and Alexander Petrovic said he thought the group welcomed every player into the locker room.
“It’s a good culture,” Petrovic said. “The boys like being together, that’s for sure. We spend time together and it’s always good. Plus, we’ve been in some close games and I think that off-ice stuff has helped.”
