Matthew DeFranks of the Dallas News answers some questions...

Why is this team so inconsistent at times?

DeFranks: It's really maddening. But I thought about this the other day, and it is nothing compared to the rest of the Western Conference.

Think about the teams that were left for dead earlier this season: St. Louis, Chicago, Arizona. They are very much in the playoff hunt because hot streaks overshadowed the cold ones.

Think about the teams that once looked unstoppable (or at least very secure): Colorado, Minnesota. They've been doomed by each suffering nine losses in a 10-game stretch.

But back to the Stars. They don't generate enough offense to be counted on consistently. So they're not going to win those 4-3 games very often, and when that offense disappears, the wins typically do as well. The defense should recover well in the next few games, and that's generally been the best of the team.

more Q & A...

Below, a snapshot of the Western Conference playoff picture.