Stars coach Dave Tippett was visibly miffed that his team didn't compete Saturday. If the Stars were still enjoying Friday's win over Detroit, then shame on them. Considering where they are in the standings, that is unacceptable for a team with the expectations they came in with.
But...channelling Stephen A. Smith....HOWEVER, let's be realistic about this. If anybody expected the Stars to waltz into Nashville and drum the Predators less than 24 hours after chasing the Red Wings all over the ice in Dallas, that would be wishful thinking. With all the injuries forcing a lot of players that shouldn't be here at this point of the season to play big minutes, winning consecutive games on consecutive nights against quality competition is a stretch. The Stars just didn't have the legs to pull it off.
The good news is that the Stars don't play back-to-back games until January and five of their next seven games are at home. Three of those home games are against divisional opponents--Phoenix, Anaheim and San Jose. Hopefully, some of the Stars' walking wounded will be back by then.
I'm not saying Stars fans shouldn't be down after this loss, but let's keep some perspective.
--Milenko Martinovich
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