2010–11 Dallas Stars season

The 2010–11 Dallas Stars season was the 44th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 5, 1967, and 18th season since the franchise relocated to Dallas to start the 1993–94 NHL season. Despite having a winning record, the Stars failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the third consecutive season. The Stars posted a regular season record of 42 wins, 29 losses and 11 overtime/shootout losses for 95 points, only two points behind the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks for the last playoff spot. The Stars had a strong start to the season, compiling a 30–15–5 record before the All-Star break. After the break, however, the team started to struggle going 12–14–6 through the rest of the season and going on numerous losing streaks which included one-goal losses and blowing late leads in numerous games they had little business losing. Despite these late season difficulties, the Stars still remained in the playoff hunt for the rest of the way. On April 10, 2011, the last day of the season, the Stars had an opportunity to leap past the Blackhawks to the last playoff spot and match up against the Presidents' Trophy-winning Vancouver Canucks in the opening round by winning their last game in regulation or in overtime against the Minnesota Wild after the Blackhawks were unable to gain a point in the standings (losing their last game 4–3 in regulation against the Detroit Red Wings). The Stars, however, would go on to lose their last game against the Wild 5–3, resulting in their near miss from the playoffs. The 95 points recorded in the standings tied the 2006–07 Colorado Avalanche for the team with the highest point total in a season that failed to make the playoffs. This record was later surpassed by the 2014–15 Boston Bruins, 2017–18 Florida Panthers and 2018–19 Montreal Canadiens and 2024–25 Calgary Flames, each of whom failed to make the playoffs with 96 points.

Off-season The Stars decided to not re-sign unrestricted free agent goalie Marty Turco. The Stars signed free agent goalie Andrew Raycroft, formerly of the Vancouver Canucks, as a likely backup goaltender to Kari Lehtonen. Mike Modano left the team to sign with the Detroit Red Wings.

Regular season On February 21, 2011, among an extended skid, general manager Joe Nieuwendyk traded defenseman Matt Niskanen and forward James Neal to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Alex Goligoski. After failing to make the playoffs by losing their final game of the season, Marc Crawford was fired as head coach.Head Coach Marc Crawford Relieved Of His Coaching Duties

Playoffs The Stars narrowly failed to qualify for the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Schedule and results

Pre-season

2010 Pre-season # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record Recap 1 September 21 Tampa Bay Lightning 4 - 2 Dallas Stars Dan Ellis 0-1-0 Recap 2 September 24 Colorado Avalanche 1 - 2 Dallas Stars Kari Lehtonen 1-1-0 Recap 3 September 25 St. Louis Blues 2 - 5 Dallas Stars Brent Krahn 2-1-0 Recap 4 September 28 Dallas Stars 1 - 2 Colorado Avalanche Peter Budaj 2-2-0 Recap 5 September 30 Colorado Avalanche 1 - 2 Dallas Stars Kari Lehtonen 3-2-0 Recap 6 October 2 Dallas Stars 3 - 4 St. Louis Blues OT Jaroslav Halak 3-2-1 Recap

Regular season 2010–11 Game Log October: 6–4–0 (Home: 3–3–0; Road: 3–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 8 Dallas Stars 4-3 New Jersey Devils OT Lehtonen 1-0-0 17,625 1-0-0 2 Recap 2 October 9 Dallas Stars 5-4 New York Islanders SO Lehtonen 2-0-0 13,351 2-0-0 4 Recap 3 October 14 Detroit Red Wings 1-4 Dallas Stars Lehtonen 3-0-0 18,532 3-0-0 6 Recap 4 October 16 St. Louis Blues 2-3 Dallas Stars SO Lehtonen 4-0-0 11,750 4-0-0 8 Recap 5 October 18 Dallas Stars 4-5 Tampa Bay Lightning Lehtonen 4-1-0 13,277 4-1-0 8 Recap 6 October 21 Dallas Stars 4-1 Florida Panthers Lehtonen 5-1-0 11,580 5-1-0 10 Recap 7 October 23 Nashville Predators 1-0 Dallas Stars Lehtonen 5-2-0 13,583 5-2-0 10 Recap 8 October 26 Anaheim Ducks 5-2 Dallas Stars Lehtonen 5-3-0 12,378 5-3-0 10 Recap 9 October 28 Los Angeles Kings 5-2 Dallas Stars Lehtonen 5-4-0 11,306 5-4-0 10 Recap 10 October 30 Buffalo Sabres 0-4 Dallas Stars Raycroft 1-0-0 15,015 6-4-0 12 Recap November: 8–4–1 (Home: 5–0–1; Road: 3-4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 11 November 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 2-5 Dallas Stars Lehtonen 6-4-0 15,637 7-4-0 14 Recap 12 November 5 Phoenix Coyotes 3-6 Dallas Stars Lehtonen 7-4-0 12,255 8-4-0 16 Recap 13 November 6 Dallas Stars 0-5 Colorado Avalanche Raycroft 1-1-0 16,172 8-5-0 16 Recap 14 November 11 Dallas Stars 1-3 Los Angeles Kings Lehtonen 7-5-0 18,118 8-6-0 16 Recap 15 November 12 Dallas Stars 2-4 Anaheim Ducks Lehtonen 7-6-0 13,831 8-7-0 16 Recap 16 November 16 Anaheim Ducks 1-2 Dallas Stars Lehtonen 8-6-0 13,433 9-7-0 18 Recap 17 November 18 San Jose Sharks 4-5 Dallas Stars OT Lehtonen 9-6-0 14,720 10-7-0 20 Recap 18 November 20 Colorado Avalanche 4-3 Dallas Stars SO Lehtonen 9-6-1 17,441 10-7-1 21 Recap 19 November 22 Dallas Stars 1-4 Toronto Maple Leafs Lehtonen 9-7-1 19,266 10-8-1 21 Recap 20 November 24 Dallas Stars 2-1 Ottawa Senators Raycroft 2-1-0 16,281 11-8-1 23 Recap 21 November 26 St. Louis Blues 2-3 Dallas Stars Lehtonen 10-7-1 16,675 12-8-1 25 Recap 22 November 27 Dallas Stars 2-1 St. Louis Blues Lehtonen 11-7-1 19,150 13-8-1 27 Recap 23 November 29 Dallas Stars 4-1 Carolina Hurricanes Lehtonen 12-7-1 15,382 14-8-1 29 Recap December: 8–5–3 (Home: 4–3–2; Road: 4-2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 24 December 2 Washington Capitals 1-2 Dallas Stars Raycroft 3-1-0 13,943 15-8-1 31 Recap 25 December 4 Minnesota Wild 3-4 Dallas Stars OT Lehtonen 13-7-1 14,344 16-8-1 33 Recap 26 December 6 Dallas Stars 2-3 Columbus Blue Jackets OT Lehtonen 13-7-2 10,932 16-8-2 34 Recap 27 December 8 Dallas Stars 3-5 Chicago Blackhawks Raycroft 3-2-0 21,184 16-9-2 34 Recap 28 December 10 Carolina Hurricanes 1-2 Dallas Stars SO Raycroft 4-2-0 13,012 17-9-2 36 Recap 29 December 11 Dallas Stars 2-5 Phoenix Coyotes Raycroft 4-3-0 11,410 17-10-2 36 Recap 30 December 13 Dallas Stars 3-2 San Jose Sharks SO Raycroft 5-3-0 17,562 18-10-2 38 Recap 31 December 16 San Jose Sharks 4-3 Dallas Stars OT Lehtonen 13-7-3 14,899 18-10-3 39 Recap 32 December 18 Dallas Stars 2-1 Columbus Blue Jackets Lehtonen 14-7-3 13,973 19-10-3 41 Recap 33 December 19 Dallas Stars 4-3 Detroit Red Wings OT Raycroft 6-3-0 20,006 20-10-3 43 Recap 34 December 21 Montreal Canadiens 2-5 Dallas Stars Lehtonen 15-7-3 17,805 21-10-3 45 Recap 35 December 23 Calgary Flames 3-2 Dallas Stars SO Lehtonen 15-7-4 15,520 21-10-4 46 Recap 36 December 26 Phoenix Coyotes 1-0 Dallas Stars Lehtonen 15-8-4 17,515 21-11-4 46 Recap 37 December 28 Dallas Stars 4-2 Nashville Predators Raycroft 7-3-0 17,113 22-11-4 48 Recap 38 December 29 Detroit Red Wings 7-3 Dallas Stars Lehtonen 15-9-4 18,532 22-12-4 48 Recap 39 December 31 Vancouver Canucks 4-1 Dallas Stars Lehtonen 15-10-4 17,733 22-13-4 48 Recap January: 8–2–1 (Home: 4–0–1; Road: 4-2-0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 40 January 2 Dallas Stars 4-2 St. Louis Blues Lehtonen 16-10-4 19,150 23-13-4 50 Recap 41 January 5 Dallas Stars 4-2 Chicago Blackhawks Lehtonen 17-10-4 21,245 24-13-4 52 Recap 42 January 7 New York Rangers 3-2 Dallas Stars SO Lehtonen 17-10-5 14,934 24-13-5 53 Recap 43 January 9 Dallas Stars 4-0 Minnesota Wild Raycroft 8-3-0 18,082 25-13-5 55 Recap 44 January 11 Edmonton Oilers 2-3 Dallas Stars Lehtonen 18-10-5 12,463 26-13-5 57 Recap 45 January 15 Atlanta Thrashers 1-6 Dallas Stars Lehtonen 19-10-5 17,702 27-13-5 59 Recap 46 January 17 Los Angeles Kings 1-2 Dallas Stars Lehtonen 20-10-5 14,163 28-13-5 61 Recap 47 January 20 Dallas Stars 4-2 Edmonton Oilers Lehtonen 21-10-5 16,839 29-13-5 63 Recap 48 January 21 Dallas Stars 4-7 Calgary Flames Raycroft 8-4-0 19,289 29-14-5 63 Recap 49 January 24 Dallas Stars 1-7 Vancouver Canucks Lehtonen 21-11-5 18,860 29-15-5 63 Recap 50 January 26 Edmonton Oilers 1-3 Dallas Stars Lehtonen 22-11-5 13,875 30-15-5 65 Recap February: 3–8–1 (Home: 2–3–1; Road: 1-5-0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 51 February 1 Vancouver Canucks 4-1 Dallas Stars Lehtonen 22-12-5 12,884 30-16-5 65 Recap 52 February 3 Dallas Stars 3-6 Boston Bruins Lehtonen 22-13-5 17,565 30-17-5 65 Recap 53 February 5 Dallas Stars 1-3 Philadelphia Flyers Lehtonen 22-14-5 19,881 30-18-5 65 Recap 54 February 9 Phoenix Coyotes 3-2 Dallas Stars OT Lehtonen 22-14-6 11,488 30-18-6 66 Recap 55 February 11 Chicago Blackhawks 3-4 Dallas Stars SO Lehtonen 23-14-6 17,569 31-18-6 68 Recap 56 February 13 Columbus Blue Jackets 1-2 Dallas Stars Lehtonen 23-15-6 16,377 31-19-6 68 Recap 57 February 15 Dallas Stars 1-4 Edmonton Oilers Lehtonen 23-16-6 16,839 31-20-6 68 Recap 58 February 16 Dallas Stars 2-4 Calgary Flames Lehtonen 23-17-6 19,289 31-21-6 68 Recap 59 February 19 Dallas Stars 2-5 Vancouver Canucks Raycroft 8-5-0 18,860 31-22-6 68 Recap 60 February 22 New Jersey Devils 1-0 Dallas Stars Lehtonen 23-18-6 13,652 31-23-6 68 Recap 61 February 24 Dallas Stars 4-1 Detroit Red Wings Lehtonen 24-18-6 20,066 32-23-6 70 Recap 62 February 26 Nashville Predators 2-3 Dallas Stars Lehtonen 25-18-6 15,860 33-23-6 72 Recap March: 5–4–5 (Home: 2–2–3; Road: 3-2-2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 63 March 1 Dallas Stars 3-2 Phoenix Coyotes Lehtonen 26-18-6 15,751 34-23-6 74 Recap 64 March 4 Dallas Stars 3-4 Anaheim Ducks OT Lehtonen 26-18-7 12,883 34-23-7 75 Recap 65 March 5 Dallas Stars 3-2 San Jose Sharks Lehtonen 27-18-7 17,562 35-23-7 77 Recap 66 March 7 Dallas Stars 4-3 Los Angeles Kings OT Lehtonen 28-18-7 18,118 36-23-7 79 Recap 67 March 9 Calgary Flames 3-4 Dallas Stars SO Lehtonen 28-18-8 14,476 36-23-8 80 Recap 68 March 11 Minnesota Wild 4-0 Dallas Stars Lehtonen 29-18-8 14,545 37-23-8 82 Recap 69 March 13 Los Angeles Kings 2-3 Dallas Stars Lehtonen 29-19-8 15,627 37-24-8 82 Recap 70 March 15 San Jose Sharks 3-6 Dallas Stars Lehtonen 29-20-8 16,724 37-25-8 82 Recap 71 March 17 Chicago Blackhawks 5-0 Dallas Stars Lehtonen 30-20-8 14,830 38-25-8 84 Recap 72 March 19 Philadelphia Flyers 2-3 Dallas Stars SO Lehtonen 30-20-9 17,652 38-25-9 85 Recap 73 March 23 Anaheim Ducks 3-4 Dallas Stars OT Lehtonen 30-20-10 16,021 38-25-10 86 Recap 74 March 26 Dallas Stars 2-4 Nashville Predators Lehtonen 30-21-10 16,892 38-26-10 86 Recap 75 March 29 Dallas Stars 1-2 Phoenix Coyotes SO Lehtonen 30-21-11 12,541 38-26-11 87 Recap 76 March 31 Dallas Stars 0-6 San Jose Sharks Raycroft 8-6-0 17,562 38-27-11 87 Recap April: 4–2–0 (Home: 2–0–0; Road: 2-2-0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 77 April 2 Dallas Stars 1-3 Los Angeles Kings Lehtonen 30-22-10 18,118 38-28-11 87 Recap 78 April 3 Dallas Stars 4-3 Anaheim Ducks Lehtonen 31-22-10 16,424 39-28-11 89 Recap 79 April 5 Columbus Blue Jackets 3-0 Dallas Stars Lehtonen 32-22-10 16,012 40-28-11 91 Recap 80 April 7 Colorado Avalanche 4-2 Dallas Stars Lehtonen 33-22-10 15,105 41-28-11 93 Recap 81 April 8 Dallas Stars 3-2 Colorado Avalanche Lehtonen 34-22-10 14,037 42-28-11 95 Recap 82 April 10 Dallas Stars 3-5 Minnesota Wild Lehtonen 34-22-11 18,504 42-29-11 95 RecapLegend:

Standings

Divisional standings

Conference standings

Player statistics

Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/− = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes