The pack is moving ahead

    Columbus is pushing itself out of the bubble teams after beating Chicago Wednesday. Anaheim and Nashville pulled the dreaded three-point game, with the Ducks getting the win and the Predators getting the point for losing.
    And, meanwhile, the Stars get nothing and have fewer games left to do something. It's not a great situation. It's not hopeless, but it's not a great situation. You guys have already spelled out a few things. Edmonton is on pace for 89 points. Nashville is on pace for 89 points. Those two are currently seventh and eighth in the West. Columbus is sixth and is on pace for 92 points. So that means the Stars have some work to do. Let's say that 89 is the magic number. Dallas at 74 points with 11 games remaining would need to get 15 points. That's a .733 points percentage down the stretch or a record of something close to 7-3-1.
    That's a lot to ask from this team right now. Could the other teams crumble and bring the number below 89? Sure. Do those teams have their own issues? Yep. But the Stars have to start winning games, a lot of games, if they want to make a go of this. I'm not sure if they have that left in them.
    ``You are seeing so many teams in the mix,'' said Stars coach Dave Tippett. ``In past years, you could predict things pretty well. We have set ourselves up with a big challenge now. We are going to have to scrape and claw for points now. We have to find ways to win. There are no excuses."
_Mike Heika