History has provided two different Dallas Stars teams when they come off of an extended rest period. On one hand, they’ve come out and dominated teams. On the other hand, they’ve also been known to come out completely flat.
Maybe what was missing in those latter instances was the intensity of trying to win the Stanley Cup if Game 1 is any indication.
Dallas played their style of hockey for the first 40 minutes. It was clear at the end of those 40 minutes, the Tampa Bay Lightning were frustrated. When the opponent came out in the third period and found their footing (thanks, in large part, to penalties they more than earned), the Stars did what they’ve done this entire postseason — they weathered the storm.