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 matching 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.