You also want them on the same page as they enter the final 33 games. Monday is expected to include a team meeting in which players go over not only strategy, but also unity.
"I think we just need to be more consistent," said defenseman Roman Polak. "Everything about our team revolves around consistency. It sounds easy, but it's not that easy. Teams that are truly consistent, they are the ones who can have a long run in the playoffs. That's the difference between a good team and a bad team."
The Stars battled through a 1-5-0 slump and were struggling not only with play, but with confidence and calm as they headed toward the break. They scored just four goals in the five losses, and seemed to get worse with increased effort and pressure. However, they put things together in a 4-2 win over Winnipeg just before the break, and they say that's how they want to play coming out of the break.
Dallas outshot the Jets, 39-29. The Stars had a 72-47 advantage in shot attempts (on goal, blocked and missed). They went 36-30 in the faceoff circle and had a 27-13 advantage in hits. It could be the blueprint for this team going forward, but they have to follow that blueprint on a more regular basis.
"We know what makes us successful and we know the habits that come into play when things aren't going well," Benn said. "It's up to us as players to stick to our identity. It's something we've definitely talked about, and we're determined to keep each other accountable on how we play every night."
Polak echoed those thoughts. Asked if he felt a rash of injuries contributed to the inconsistency earlier, he said no.
"Injuries happen, every team has injuries, so I don't think that's because of injuries," Polak said. "I'm talking about team consistency, and we didn't have it. It's up and down all of the time, so we need to focus on fixing that."
Montgomery said he has reflected on a lot during his first 49 games as an NHL coach and during the time off.