DALLAS -- Back from the break with their first game in eight days, the Stars open a stretch of eight straight against Central Division opponents Wednesday vs. Nashville.
Please note the start time is set for 7 p.m. CT with coverage on TNT.
If the Stars have any chance of making the big dance after the regular season, they're going to have to take care of business in their own division. With a 23-18-2 record, the Stars are 12 points behind the Predators in the standings. Nashville holds second place in the Central eight points behind Colorado and one point up on Minnesota. Meanwhile, St. Louis is in the first wild card with 57 points and Calgary's in the second wild card with 52.
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The Stars won't have the luxury of having games in hand for much longer, as the next two weeks will serve as make-up dates for the contests postponed in late December. Dallas has 39 games remaining in the regular season, including two more four-game road trips and a crucial four-game homestand to conclude the 2021-22 campaign.
Dallas' sole focus, however, is coming out of Wednesday's game with a win (in regulation, preferably).
"We haven't given up on one of those top three spots, and the only way to get up there is to win consistently and beat those teams in our division," Stars coach Rick Bowness said after practice Tuesday. "It starts Wednesday!
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Kyle Shohara* is the Digital Manager for DallasStars.com and writes about the Stars/NHL. Follow him on Twitter @kyleshohara.
