Sporting News Magazine has named Dallas as 2011’s Best Sports City credited to the heavy spotlight that was on the Cowboys Stadium hosting the Super Bowl, the Mavericks winning the NBA championship, TCU’s victory in the Rose Bowl, and the Rangers reaching the World Series semi-finals for the second time in a row. Now, as the year winds down so do most sports teams. That is, except for the Dallas Stars, coached by Glen Gulutzan. They started off their regular hockey season strong in October, losing only three games out of 11 that month and sparking positive headlines. The team is even attempting to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs this year for the first time since the 2007-2008 NHL season. With all this great potential comes hope that the Stars will catch the “winning bug” from the other Dallas sports teams, but, as well, with great potential comes heavy weight on the Stars’ shoulders.

Stars defenseman Mark Fistric denied the team was under any unhealthy pressure.

“I think that we try to separate ourselves from the other major sports,” Fistric said. “We know that we have to sell a different game and to do that, you have to win no matter what and we know that. The Dallas Stars have won before and we know we can win. It’s up to us in the room to make sure we bring back the winning tradition.”

In reality, a bigger obstacle may be the huge amount of injuries impacting the team so far. The serious injury toll as of late November is six. One game alone, a loss against the Phoenix Coyotes on Nov. 27, injured three players including goaltender Karl Lehtonen in the groin.

“You never want to see a teammate get injured but it’s obviously part of the game,” Fistric said. “We play a very fast-paced physical game and when injuries do occur, we have a deep team and the guys are able to step in and push forward.”

Despite injured players falling out and substitutes coming in, it’s Fistric’s pride in his teammates that takes away Fistric’s pressure.

“I think that we’re just a hard-working group of athletes that are a really tight family and we really stick together and I think what makes us unique is that we do spend so much time together and we’re always there for one another and to stick up for one another. You learn so much about them [teammates] that they become family and you treat them like you would your mom and dad,” Fistric said.

For any Stars fans out there still worrying, Fistric assures the team appreciates it. “Thanks for being a fan, and your support means a lot to us!” Fistric said.