Stars Eliminated in Opening Round For First Time Since 2022
After losing 5-2 in Game 6 to the Minnesota Wild, the Dallas Stars find themselves eliminated in the opening round for the first time since the 2021-22 season.
thehockeynews.comDirect answer: The latest widely-cited recap of the 2021–22 Dallas Stars season notes their return to the playoffs as a wild-card in the first round, where they were defeated in seven games by the Calgary Flames. Since then, coverage has focused on offseason moves and how the team planned to build on that season.
Key points from that season and context:
- Regular season: The Stars finished 4th in the Central Division with a 46–30–6 record, earning a playoff berth as a wild-card in the Western Conference, and were led by strong performances from Jake Oettinger in goal and a core group including Robertson, Hintz, Pavelski, and Sek forward-line play.[5]
- Playoffs: They pushed the Flames to seven games in the opening round before being eliminated, marking the end of their playoff run in that season.[5]
- Aftermath and notes: The 2021–22 season is frequently referenced as a turning point that exposed depth and contract questions, like potential re-signing of key players (e.g., Klingberg) and the need to add scoring depth to support a top-heavy roster. The season is often contrasted with later playoff outcomes and roster decisions in subsequent years.[1]
What to read for deeper detail:
- Comprehensive season review and analysis of what went right and what needed improvement: provides game-by-game insights, player standouts, and contract considerations for the 2021–22 Stars.[1]
- Historical context pages summarizing the 2021–22 campaign within the team’s broader playoff history: helpful for situating where that season fits in Dallas’s recent performance trends.[5]
If you’d like, I can pull more specific items (e.g., player-by-player stats, series-by-series breakdown, or the exact playoff sequence) and cite sources precisely.