DALLAS — It wasn’t just that the Sharks had just four shots on goal in a lifeless first period. Or failed to exhibit any type of pushback early in the second when they fell behind the Dallas Stars by two goals.
It was that Jamie Benn, a former Art Ross Trophy winner, slipped past everyone on a faceoff right next to the Sharks net, took a pass from Alex Hemsky and beat goalie Aaron Dell for a three-goal Stars lead just 5:19 into the second period.
That’s when it became painfully apparent that the Sharks were not emotionally invested.