Heika's Take: 'A little bit more effort, heart, emotion'

The Stars had a familiar feeling Friday in St. Louis.
A horribly familiar awful feeling.

Dallas lost for the fifth game in a row (its first such streak since 2014).
They lost again on the road (falling to 4-9-1, ranking 28th in the league away from home).
They failed to score more than one goal for the fourth straight game (and now have three in that span).
And they lost another Central Division game in a situation where they had every reason to be motivated to seek revenge against the Blues, who now sit 11 points ahead in the standings.
It was a bad night.
"It comes down to all five trying to work together," Stars defenseman John Klingberg said.

The Stars fought hard but lost battles. They tried hard but didn't show composure. They understood the assignment, but then didn't rise to the importance of the challenge. It was another frustrating night for a team that won seven straight just a week or so ago. It was as if everything they were doing well during the winning streak is now going against them.
At the very least, they've frittered away the place in the standings they earned with the seven straight wins. They're now 13-12-2 and sixth place in the Central Division. They sit just four points ahead of seven-place Chicago and get a chance to meet the Blackhawks on Saturday. A loss there, and the panic bells will really start.
The Stars had some interesting games on the road and really had a pretty solid effort in San Jose but couldn't find the scoring touch. However, they needed a win Tuesday against the Blues in Dallas, and when they didn't get that, they really needed a win Friday.
In both games, they looked shaky. Whether that was lack of work ethic or lack of execution, they simply were lacking.
"A little bit more effort, heart, emotion," Stars captain Jamie Benn said when asked what was needed. "It's hard to win in this league, and you need to bring it every night."

Stars coach Rick Bowness singled out players after Tuesday's loss and said there was some grit missing. Asked on Friday how they can be motivated, Bowness was frustrated.
"How do you find motivation?" he asked. "My God, we're trying to fight our way back into a playoff spot. Is that not enough motivation? What else is there? You play the game to win, you play the game to make the playoffs. Listen, I believe in this team, I believe in this group. I know we're having a tough time right now and I also believe we'll play our way out of it."

The Stars are putting themselves in a place where they might have a really hard climb just to compete for a playoff spot. Sure, there are plenty of games left, but they're drifting right now. What's more, St. Louis is battling through illness, Colorado is fighting through injuries and illness, Minnesota has remade itself and is leading the division.
There are a lot of examples of other teams finding their motivation.
"You don't want to make excuses because when you start making excuses, you might as well not even play," Ryan Suter said when asked about Dallas' missing player. "You focus on winning those battles for your teammates and competing for your teammates and doing the right things preparation wise to go to battle with your teammates."

Klingberg believes the team needs to be more patient and be more confident, holding onto the puck more if that's the right move. Benn said the players need to enjoy the battle and competition. Suter said each player has to do a little more.
It's a team issue and one that only the team can resolve. And if it doesn't, then the game Saturday could unravel in the same manner.
Again.
"It's frustrating," said Suter. "I think as a team we have to compete harder. Everyone can give a little bit more. I think we all know that. When things aren't going your way, just bear down and keep it simple. Win your battle, have the emotion to win your battle, make the right play. Eventually as you start winning battles and competing the way you should compete, then things start to turn your way."
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heikais a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika.