Dallas Stars continue second-half push to NHL playoffs

The exciting start to this NHL season for the Dallas Stars before the turn of the year — leading the league in both points and offense — was relatively drama free.

Other than which goaltender would get the nod on a given night, the Stars were on pace to cleanly take the Central Division crown and earn that berth to the playoffs that has become rare in North Texas over the past decade.

Then January rolled around.

In 11 games played in the month, the Stars saw drops in almost every significant statistical category and failed to win a game on the road in six tries.

“If I had to pick a time to struggle, I’d pick now as opposed to the end of the year,” coach Lindy Ruff said. “The team’s not quitting, they’re working hard to get out of this.”

With the lead gained in the incredible start the Stars made through the first three months of the season, it’s improbable that Dallas (31-14) will fall out of the playoff picture through the next 30 games of the season.

Here’s five things to watch:

Will the Stars make a move for a defenseman before the Feb. 29 trade deadline?

The Stars reportedly have been linked to a trade deal for Winnipeg defenseman Dustin Byfuglien. The 6-foot-5, 260-pound, right-handed shooter would fill the Stars’ most glaring hole, a big-bodied, veteran blueliner. However, the price would be high in personnel (a couple of defensemen perhaps) and salary.

Who will separate themselves as the Stars’ goaltender for the playoffs?

Antti Niemi and Kari Lehtonen sit 26th and 42nd in the league in goals against average. But when the playoffs come, traditional strategy would point toward naming one the go-to player for each series, if not the whole playoff run. Niemi would be the top candidate for the nod. Niemi has played in 33 games to Lehtonen’s 22. Niemi holds the edge in save percentage at 91.2 percent.

Can Dallas’ blue line provide enough support for the offense to win games?

Dallas had 160 goals at the All-Star break. It has seven losses this season when the offense posts three goals in the game. The issue hasn’t been long streaks of poor defensive play, but rather several ill-timed turnovers and penalties that allow teams back into games quickly. Dallas leads the league in giveaways with 550 at the break.

Can the offense regain its early-season form?

Dallas leads the league in goals and has two players in the top five in scoring in Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin. But its offensive numbers have been on a steady decline since October, with the bottom falling out in January. From December to January, Dallas’ goals per game fell from 3.47 to 2.18 and its shooting percentage fell from 10.5 percent to 6.9 percent. Ruff said finishing their scoring chances is crucial in the final games.

Can the Stars find more production from its special teams?

While still maintaining the fifth-best power play in the league, the Stars saw their power play percentage fall from 27.8 percent in November to 12.9 percent in January. The penalty kill is a different story. While only falling from 81.1 percent to 76.5 percent from December to January, the Stars’ overall 79.3 percent ranks 21st in the league.

This story was originally published February 1, 2016 at 4:28 PM with the headline "Dallas Stars continue second-half push to NHL playoffs."