"We've got some home games, and we've got to turn this around now," Bowness said after the loss to the Lightning. "We don't have any more time. We've got to turn it around. Let's see if we can make this next 10-game segment a whole lot better than this (past) one."
In a lot of ways, facing the Lightning again is a good thing. The two teams tangled in the Stanley Cup Final last season, with Tampa Bay winning in six games. Now, with the Lightning as division rivals, there is a real measuring stick on the ice. Tampa Bay is 14-4-1 and playing great hockey, so an answer to Saturday's game is pretty important.
"We're a lot closer than the score indicated, I'll tell you that," Bowness said when asked about the difference between the Stars and Lightning. "The power play was an issue, as well was the penalty kill. Five-on-five, there wasn't a big difference in that game. Are we that far away from them? No. Do we have to perform in certain areas a lot better? Absolutely. We're better than that, we're better than the 5-0 loss for sure."
The Stars have actually had some solid numbers during this past stretch, but they find different ways to lose. Sometimes, it's the lack of converting golden scoring chances. Sometimes, it's bad goaltending. Sometimes, it's sketchy special teams play.
"It seems like every game is just something different, and we're not putting it together," forward Andrew Cogliano said. "It's not good enough, and we're not getting points. We have to figure it out in a hurry."
Tuesday would be a good start. The Stars looked good in practice Monday, and Roope Hintz seems to be doing well. The talented center has been in and out of the lineup with a lower body injury that he said has to be managed, but he feels like he's doing a good job of keeping himself ready. Hintz played 19:38 on Saturday.