from Brett Amadon of NHL.com,

The Dallas Stars know how close they were last season to advancing to the Western Conference Final for the first time since 2008, and they're determined to get there this time around.

The Stars, who missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs the previous two seasons, qualified in their first year under coach Jim Montgomery. Dallas eliminated the Nashville Predators in six games in the first round before losing to the St. Louis Blues in double overtime of Game 7 the following series.

"I think you always use it as motivation because we were that close, yet we were so far," Montgomery said. "I think everybody knows the hardest part to win a Stanley Cup is making sure you make the playoffs. That's our outlook right now, is to get off to a great start in October so we don't have to do what the Blues did (go from last in NHL standings on Jan. 3 to winning the Stanley Cup)."

If they hope to achieve the ultimate goal, the Stars will have to start a trend; they have not qualified for the playoffs in consecutive seasons since five straight appearances from 2003-08.

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