First Shift \ud83c\udfd2<\/p>\n
Stats can tell you a lot about a team. But the problem is they change every game.<\/p>\n
The Stars are one of the best penalty killing teams in the league\u2026but they weren\u2019t on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Dallas is one of the best teams at protecting a third period lead\u2026but it didn\u2019t do that against the San Jose Sharks.<\/p>\n
And the Lads in Victory Green have one of the best road records in the NHL\u2026but they have lost two of their first three on a season-long six game road trip.<\/p>\n
So, yeah, perspective is everything.<\/p>\n
Dallas lost a 5-4 overtime game in San Jose on Saturday, allowing the Shars to overcome a two-goal deficit in the third period while San Jose went 4-for-6 on the power play. It was a truly Un-Stars-Like performance, and now the team has to find a way to recover its mojo with games at Los Angeles Monday and Anaheim on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to flush it away,\u201d said forward Robertson. \u201cWe know what the problem is.\u201d<\/p>\n
In part, because it has been a problem for a few games now. Yes, Dallas played an excellent game in Washington and took a 4-1 win on Wednesday, but they have allowed four or more goals in seven of the last eight games and have faced 21 power plays in that span.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t do that,\u201d Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said. \u201cIt\u2019s not a recipe for success.\u201d<\/p>\n
The fact the Stars have cooked up a 26-10-9 record, second-best in the NHL, helps at times like this. Before this recent stretch, Dallas ranked fourth in GAA at 2.57, fifth in penalty kill at 83.9 percent and hadn\u2019t lost when leading after two periods (16-0-0).<\/p>\n
During this current 1-3-4 run, the Stars are 27th in GAA (3.88), 32nd on the PK (62.1 percent) and have lost two of the three games they have led after two periods.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know what we have to fix,\u201d said Robertson. \u201cIt\u2019s pretty obvious.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also manageable. Dallas had one of its worst games of the season at Carolina last week and responded with one of its best against Washington a day later. They don\u2019t have to complicate things. If they play smart, simple hockey, don\u2019t take too many risks and don\u2019t take too many penalties, a return to the win column is a clear possibility.<\/p>\n