Push to the Playoffs: Stars get needed help, now must take advantage

The Stars got some help in the Western Conference playoff race on Sunday. The New York Islanders defeated Arizona, 2-0, and Chicago knocked off Colorado, 2-1, in overtime.
So, as the Stars begin their four-game road trip in Winnipeg tonight, they are in the first wild-card spot in the West with a one-point lead over Colorado, which is in the second wild-card position, and three-point leads on Minnesota and Arizona, which both are sitting just outside the playoffs right now. The Stars have one game in hand on all three of those teams.

Games in hand are great, but they don't mean much unless teams take advantage of them. The Stars can do that tonight in Winnipeg against the Jets. It will be a tough task. The Jets have won five of their last six games including a 5-0 win over Nashville on Saturday.

This is a big road trip for the Stars who open with the Central Division leaders in Winnipeg and then face the Pacific Division leaders in Calgary on Wednesday, play Thursday at Edmonton and then wrap up the trip Saturday in Vancouver. Coming off a 1-3-1 homestand, the Stars need to regroup and gather some points on the road.
"You have to have a short memory at this point of the season. That's what the playoffs is about, too. You've got to learn to forget about it now and move on," Stars forward Andrew Cogliano said. "You've got to go on a big road trip now and come together as a team and win games. It is as simple as that. If we want to make the playoffs, this is the road trip we all need to collectively come together."
There will be a couple of other games to keep tabs on tonight. Minnesota is hosting Nashville and St. Louis takes on Vegas. The Blues have a six-point lead on the Stars for third place in the Central Division and are now only two points behind the Predators in the race for second.

Stars' magic number

The Stars' magic number to clinch a playoff spot dropped from 12 to 10 Sunday thanks to the Islanders defeating Arizona and the Coyotes losing two points.
Any combination of 10 points gained by the Stars or lost by the team with the ninth-highest points potential in the West would clinch a playoff spot for the Stars without the use of tiebreakers.

Stars' playoff chances

The Stars' chances of making the playoffs went up Sunday with both Colorado and Arizona losing. Here are updated numbers for the Stars from two sites that calculate playoff chances.
According to moneypuck.com, the Stars have a 64 percent chance of finishing in the first wild-card spot and a 19.9 percent shot of ending up in the second wild-card position. As for moving up in the standings, there is a 3.9 percent chance of finishing third in the division and a 0.4 percent chance of taking second.

Current playoff matchups

Central Division
1-Winnipeg vs. WC1-Dallas
2-Nashville vs. 3-St. Louis
Pacific Division
1-Calgary vs. WC2-Colorado
2-San Jose vs. 3-Vegas
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mark Stepneski has covered the Stars for DallasStars.com since 2012. Follow him on Twitter @StarsInsideEdge.