The Dallas Stars are close to securing their place in the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the potential second team from the Western Conference to qualify.
Currently holding a solid second position in the Central Division, Dallas requires specific outcomes in other games to guarantee their playoff entry.
If the Stars achieve any type of victory against Seattle on Saturday, they will clinch a playoff spot if either St. Louis loses to Colorado or Calgary loses to Edmonton.
However, if Dallas earns only one point from an overtime loss or shootout loss, they still need either the Blues or Flames to lose in regulation time to secure their playoff berth.
Should they clinch, the Stars would become the second team from the Central Division to qualify for the playoffs, following Winnipeg, and the third team in the entire league, after Washington qualified on March 21.
Dallas is currently six points behind the Jets and five points ahead of Colorado in the standings. If these positions remain unchanged until the end of the season, the Stars would have home-ice advantage against the Avalanche in the first round of the playoffs.
