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06:41 AM ET 01.10 | The Dallas Stars' loss in Detroit was embarrassing and ugly. That's frustrating enough to coach Dave Tippett; but worse was how some of the Stars' top stars played. That, for him, was unacceptable. The Stars' "high-minute people," as Tippett called the top players, were needed to measure up to Detroit's best on Thursday. But the best, including Stars centers Brad Richards and Mike Ribeiro and goaltender Marty Turco had forgettable evenings. "The difference between Detroit's top players and our top players wasn't even close," Tippett said on Friday, which the Stars spent meeting about Thursday's debacle. Tippett compared the Stars centers' outings to that of Detroit centers Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, who each finished with a goal and an assist. Tippett didn't use a raised voice in the meeting. He didn't have to. The Stars' top players have had moments and games this season, but it hasn't been consistent. Ribeiro had a some great scoring chances early against Detroit but didn't connect on any of them. Most of the consistent success has come from the Stars' supporting cast. Loui Eriksson has 21 goals. Rookie James Neal has 13. Steve Ott and Trevor Daley have been solid. But it's the others, those top-dollar players, who are expected to do a lot more.