While teams like the New York Rangers, Colorado Avalanche and the Boston Bruins grabbing most of the headlines there’s another team that doesn’t match that mainstream attention. Sure, the Dallas Stars are talked about a bit more often now since they’re currently leading the west. If not for that, and their franchise winning streak we’d barely hear a whiff about Dallas.
The Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers, Vegas Golden Knights, and even the basement dwelling Chicago Blackhawks led by rookie Connor Bedard gain the most attention out west. While national attention inevitably gravitates more towards other teams, the Stars want to one thing; win.
#TexasHockey
Teams that get the most media attention are the likes of the original six teams like the Bruins, and the Rangers. As well as the more commercial driven teams led by two of the most iconic players of their generation. Such as Sidney Crosby’s Pittsburgh Penguins, or Alexander Ovechkin’s Washington Capitals.
Hockey in the south, to be honest, isn’t the same as it is up north where there’s much more ice and snow. Naturally the attention follows. Not that the weather differences have prevented Dallas from turning into the hockey town that it is to this day. Since the 1990s, ice rinks, and people playing hockey in the Dallas/Fort Worth area continue to rise.
An eight game winning streak is the franchise record. While it doesn’t quite match the 1993 Pittsburgh Penguins, the Stars are more concerned with winning 16 games after April 17th. It was still enough to push Dallas to two wins shy of the 50 win mark with five games left in the regular season.
Everybody’s underrated
Not only does hockey in Texas get little mainstream attention, so do their players. Miro Heiskanen, Roope Hintz, and arguably Jason Robertson do not get talked about a lot. Even when you have somebody like Wyatt Johnston, who leads the Stars in goals, the media would much rather talk about other guys. Such as Cale Makar, who seems to be unanimously crowned the best defenseman for only his offensive skills.
Having a team that gets contribution across all lines of forwards, and defensemen is another reason why nobody in victory green gets a lot of talk. There are no big gaps between the top point getters in Dallas.
Team discipline
Another reason why the Stars don’t grab many headlines is a coaches favorite one. Dallas is the league’s least penalized team. No major controversies this year such as attempt to injure, blowups with the officials or in press conferences from anyone in victory green.
Somebody like Brad Marchand of the Bruins makes headlines too. Beyond going to the penalty box, and making the news weird. Everybody playing in Dallas have been like machines on the ice. Playing their roles, a team game, and results without spilling into the click bait headlines.
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