The Dallas Stars, originally known as the Minnesota North Stars, have been in the National Hockey League (NHL) since 1967. The team began as a six-team expansion before relocating to Dallas, Texas, citing financial struggles and poor performances by the North Stars.
Remarkably, the move paid dividends and brought them glory in the form of five consecutive Division Championships, two Conference Championships and Presidents' Trophy apiece. Notably, this period also marked their first and only Stanley Cup triumph till date. Players like Mike Modano and Jamie Benn were integral to their performances during that period.
The recent years have seen them make unsuccessful runs in the playoffs, with thier last taste of silverware coming in 2019-20, when they clinched the Conference Championships. Furthermore, they are led by captain Jamie Benn and head coach Peter Deboer. On the other hand, the American Airlines Center (AAC), serve as thier home arena which they share with the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Dallas Stars NHL Playoff History and Appearances
The Dallas Stars, formerly known as the Minnesota North Stars, have a rich playoff history in the NHL. Since their relocation in 1993, they've made 18 playoff appearances. Notable successes include winning the Stanley Cup in 1999 and reaching the finals in 2000 and 2020.Moreover, they've consistently been a competitive force in the Western Conference, boasting five division titles between 1996 and 2001.
The Stars captured their first and only Stanley Cup in the 1998-1999 season, defeating the Buffalo Sabres in a thrilling six-game series. This victory solidified their place in NHL history and was a turning point in its history. Following their championship win, the Stars returned to the Stanley Cup Finals the next season, showcasing their consistency and strength as a team. Although they fell short against the New Jersey Devils in 2000, their back-to-back appearances underscored their dominance in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
In 2020, the Stars made a remarkable run to the Stanley Cup Finals, defeating formidable opponents to claim the Western Conference title. Unfortunately, they ultimately fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the finals after winning the first game.
A table exploring Dallas Stars’ playoff history and appearances is provided below:
| Year | Record | Result |
| 2023 | 47-21-14 | Lost Conference Finals |
| 2022 | 46-30-6 | Lost First Round |
| 2021 | 23-19-14 | Missed Playoffs |
| 2020 | 37-24-8 | Lost Final |
| 2019 | 43-32-7 | Lost Conference Semi-Finals |
| 2018 | 42-32-8 | Missed Playoffs |
| 2017 | 34-37-11 | Missed Playoffs |
| 2016 | 50-23-9 | Lost Conference Semi-Finals |
| 2015 | 41-31-10 | Missed Playoffs |
| 2014 | 40-31-11 | Lost First Round |
| 2013 | 22-22-4 | Missed Playoffs |
| 2012 | 42-35-5 | Missed Playoffs |
| 2011 | 42-29-11 | Missed Playoffs |
| 2010 | 37-31-14 | Missed Playoffs |
| 2009 | 36-35-11 | Missed Playoffs |
| 2008 | 45-30-7 | Lost Conference Finals |
| 2007 | 50-25-7 | Lost First Round |
| 2006 | 53-23-6 | Lost First Round |
| 2004 | 41-26-13-2 | Lost First Round |
| 2003 | 46-17-15-4 | Lost Conference Semi-Finals |
| 2002 | 36-28-13-5 | Missed Playoffs |
| 2001 | 48-24-8-2 | Lost Conference Semi-Finals |
| 2000 | 43-23-10-6 | Lost Stanley Cup Final |
| 1999 | 51-19-12 | Stanley Cup Winners |
| 1998 | 49-22-11 | Lost Conference Finals |
| 1997 | 48-26-8 | Lost First Round |
| 1996 | 26-42-14 | Missed Playoffs |
| 1995 | 17-23-8 | Lost First Round |
| 1994 | 42-29-13 | Lost Conference Semi-Finals |
Dallas Stars Conference History
The Dallas Stars have a rich conference history in the NHL, highlighted by notable achievements and memorable moments. In the 1998-1999 season, they dominated the Western Conference, securing first place in the Pacific Division and ultimately winning the Western Conference title before clinching their first Stanley Cup championship. The following season, they again topped the Western Conference standings, showcasing their consistency and strength in the conference. In 2015-2016, led by Jamie Benn, they finished atop the conference during the regular season but were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs. However, their resilience shone in the 2019-2020 season when they made a remarkable run to the Western Conference title. The recent seasons have seen mixed results, with varying degrees of success in the playoffs and some seasons without qualification.
A table exploring Dallas Stars' Conference History along with their results is provided below:
| Stars season | Conference | Result |
| 2022–23 | Western | Won in First Round, 4–2 (Wild) Won in Second Round, 4–3 (Kraken) Lost in Conference Finals, 2–4 (Golden Knights) |
| 2021–22 | Western | Lost in First Round, 3–4 (Flames) |
| 2020–21 | — | Did not qualify |
| 2019–20 | Western‡ | Finished third in seeding round-robin (1–2) Won in First Round, 4–2 (Flames) Won in Second Round, 4–3 (Avalanche) Won in Conference Finals, 4–1 (Golden Knights) Lost in Stanley Cup Finals, 2–4 (Lightning) |
| 2018–19 | Western | Won in First Round, 4–2 (Predators) Lost in Second Round, 3–4 (Blues) |
| 2017–18 | Western | Did not qualify |
| 2016–17 | Western | Did not qualify |
| 2015–16 | Western | Won in First Round, 4–2 (Wild) Lost in Second Round, 3–4 (Blues) |
| 2014–15 | Western | Did not qualify |
| 2013–14 | Western | Lost in First Round, 2–4 (Ducks) |
| 2012–13 | Western | Did not qualify |
| 2011–12 | Western | Did not qualify |
| 2010–11 | Western | Did not qualify |
| 2009–10 | Western | Did not qualify |
| 2008–09 | Western | Did not qualify |
| 2007–08 | Western | Won in Conference Quarterfinals, 4–2 (Ducks) Won in Conference Semifinals, 4–2 (Sharks) Lost in Conference Finals, 2–4 (Red Wings) |
| 2006–07 | Western | Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 3–4 (Canucks) |
| 2005–06 | Western | Lost Conference Quarterfinals, 1–4 (Avalanche) |
| 2004–05 | - | Season cancelled due to 2004–05 NHL Lockout |
| 2003–04 | Western | Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 1–4 (Avalanche) |
| 2002–03 | Western | Won in Conference Quarterfinals, 4–2 (Oilers) Lost in Conference Semifinals, 2–4 (Mighty Ducks) |
| 2001–02 | Western | Did not qualify |
| 2000–01 | Western | Won in Conference Quarterfinals, 4–2 (Oilers) Lost in Conference Semifinals, 0–4 (Blues) |
| 1999–00 | Western | Won in Conference Quarterfinals, 4–1 (Oilers) Won in Conference Semifinals, 4–1 (Sharks) Won in Conference Finals, 4–3 (Avalanche) Lost in Stanley Cup Finals, 2–4 (Devils) |
| 1998–99 | Western | Won in Conference Quarterfinals, 4–0 (Oilers) Won in Conference Semifinals, 4–2 (Blues) Won in Conference Finals, 4–3 (Avalanche) Won in Stanley Cup Finals, 4–2 (Sabres) |
| 1997–98 | Western | Won in Conference Quarterfinals, 4–2 (Sharks) Won in Conference Semifinals, 4–1 (Oilers) Lost in Conference Finals, 2–4 (Red Wings) |
| 1996–97 | Western | Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 3–4 (Oilers) |
| 1995–96 | Western | Did not qualify |
| 1994–95 | Western | Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 1–4 (Red Wings) |
| 1993–94 | Western | Won in Conference Quarterfinals, 4–0 (Blues) Lost in Conference Semifinals, 1–4 (Canucks) |
The Dallas Stars have captured three conference championships, winning in the seasons 1998–99, 1999–00, and most recently in 2019–20.
Dallas Stars Division History
The Dallas Stars have had a dynamic divisional history in the NHL, marked by periods of dominance and challenges. Since relocating to Dallas in 1993, they've competed in various divisions within the Western Conference. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Stars asserted their dominance in the Pacific Division, clinching division titles in consecutive seasons. This period saw the team's rise to prominence, culminating in their first Stanley Cup win in the 1998-1999 season. Throughout the early 2000s, the Stars remained competitive in the Pacific Division, consistently making playoff appearances and contending for the division title.
However, the recent years have seen them compete mostly in the Central Division, showcasing a mix of strong and less impressive regular seasons. Their performance peaked in 2016 with an impressive 50-23-9 record, indicating a dominant season. However, there were fluctuations in their performance, such as in 2017 and 2021 when they struggled with losing records.
A table exploring the Dallas Stars' division history along with their regular season record is provided below:
| Year | Division | Regular Season Record |
| 2023 | Central | 47-21-14 |
| 2022 | Central | 46-30-6 |
| 2021 | Central | 23-19-14 |
| 2020 | Central | 37-24-8 |
| 2019 | Central | 43-32-7 |
| 2018 | Central | 42-32-8 |
| 2017 | Central | 34-37-11 |
| 2016 | Central (#1) | 50-23-9 |
| 2015 | Central | 41-31-10 |
| 2014 | Central | 40-31-11 |
| 2013 | Pacific | 22-22-4 |
| 2012 | Pacific | 42-35-5 |
| 2011 | Pacific | 42-29-11 |
| 2010 | Pacific | 37-31-14 |
| 2009 | Pacific | 36-35-11 |
| 2008 | Pacific | 45-30-7 |
| 2007 | Pacific | 50-25-7 |
| 2006 | Pacific (#1) | 53-23-6 |
| 2005 | - | NHL Lockout |
| 2004 | Pacific | 41-26-13-2 |
| 2003 | Pacific (#1) | 46-17-15-4 |
| 2002 | Pacific | 36-28-13-5 |
| 2001 | Pacific (#1) | 48-24-8-2 |
| 2000 | Pacific (#1) | 43-23-10-6 |
| 1999 | Pacific (#1) | 51-19-12 |
| 1998 | Central (#1) | 49-22-11 |
| 1997 | Central (#1) | 48-26-8 |
| 1996 | Central | 26-42-14 |
| 1995 | Central | 17-23-8 |
| 1994 | Central | 42-29-13 |
The Dallas Stars have clinched the division title on eight occasions. These division championships were secured in the seasons 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2005–06,and 2015–16.
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FAQs on Dallas Stars Playoff History
A. The Dallas Stars have won the Stanley Cup once, in the 1998-1999 season, when they defeated the Buffalo Sabres in a thrilling six-game series.
A. Since relocating to Dallas in 1993, the Stars have made 18 playoff appearances, showcasing their consistency and competitiveness in the NHL.
A. The Dallas Stars' most recent Stanley Cup Finals appearance was in the 2019-2020 season, where they reached the finals but were ultimately defeated by the Tampa Bay Lightning in a six-game series.
A. Between 1996 and 2001, the Dallas Stars won five division titles, highlighting their dominance and success during that period.
