The difference between 3-1 and 2-2 is not insignificant.
After Game 1, things were looking good for Dallas fans. A 4-0 thumping will inspire confidence, and no fanbase needed the provided swagger more than one whose last playoff memory was a last-minute meltdown.
After Game 2, Stars fans were both emboldened and more sober. A tight contest with a lucky break gave the Stars a two-win lead in the series, and Dallas left for Minnesota with their heads held high. Fans already a little irked by the Minnesotan animosity towards Dallas relished the unlikeliest of goals, and so they smirked their way into Game 3.