The Stars played... technically. In their historic* first loss to the Utah Hockey Club (*for Utah, not Dallas), Ryan and Chris break down what happens when your penalty kill forgets to show up — and so does your defense. With Esa Lindell, Thomas Harley, and Jake Oettinger all resting up for the postseason, the Stars treated this game like the second preseason it truly was.

We dive into Matt Dumba somehow being the best defenseman on the ice (yes, really), Brendan Smith scoring a feel-good goal, and Jamie Benn continuing his cursed pursuit of #400. Plus: thoughts on Liam Bischel’s nerves, Petrovic’s audition, and why the penalty kill was MIA.

The Avalanche are locked in for Round 1. Landeskog is lurking. Sagan and Miro might return. Oh, and the flu is sweeping the locker room... great timing, boys.

So if you're wondering whether the Stars are ready for the playoffs — well — join us as we try to find out.

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The Dallas Stars get blanked for the first time all season in a brutal 4-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, extending their losing streak to four and leaving fans (and hosts) searching for answers. Chris and James break down a night where Hellebuyck stood on his head, the third defensive pairing fell apart, and Stars fans rightfully booed the team off the ice.

We talk:

• Hellebuyck’s Hart Trophy performance

• Bischel and Dumba getting exposed

• Lack of grit and scrappy play in front of the net

• Whether the top line is earning its paycheck

• What (if anything) gives us hope going into the playoffs

• Boo birds, broken lines, and brutal honesty

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After one of the most shocking late-game collapses in NHL memory, Ryan and Chris ask the question on every Dallas Stars fan’s mind: Is this team actually ready for the playoffs?

We break down the aftermath of the Vancouver game, explore how momentum (or the lack of it) is impacting the Stars, and debate whether leadership—or just bad luck—is to blame. From blog post deep dives to advanced stat breakdowns, we tackle what’s actually going wrong and whether it can be fixed in time for a deep run.

Also in this episode:

• The myth of flipping the switch for playoffs

• Why the fanbase feels betrayed

• Jamie Benn’s postgame tone: problem or professionalism?

• What momentum actually looks like

• The fourth line’s surprising fire

Plus, we lighten things up with a “Who Cares?” segment featuring the top 3 movie theater snacks (excluding popcorn).

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