Dallas Stars’ quest for their first Stanley Cup is hitting a familiar wall—talented, playoff-tested, yet still falling short of the ultimate goal. Players like Jason Robertson and captain Jamie Benn, along with GM Jim Nill, admit the pressure of living up to their own high standards. But they’re not alone: teams like Montreal and Vegas are defying odds in the playoffs, proving that hockey’s unpredictable nature rewards grit, health, and a little luck. While Washington and Tampa Bay eventually broke through after years of near-misses, the Sharks’ cautionary tale reminds us that consistency doesn’t always translate to championships. With seven straight playoff appearances and the league’s most playoff games since 2019, Dallas has a window—but the next moves on contracts and roster strategy could be the difference between another near-miss and finally lifting the Cup. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/6dca0d8697ae8bbf

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.