Everything changed when the Golden Knights ran into two hot backup goalies: Thatcher Demko of the Canucks, filling in for Jacob Markstrom, and Anton Khudobin of the Stars, filling in for Ben Bishop.
They needed seven games to defeat Vancouver and managed one win against Dallas, going 2-6 in their last eight games. After scoring 45 goals in their first 12 postseason games, they scored 12 in their last eight games despite outshooting the opposition 293-172.
"It was a tight series," Smith said of the conference final. "I think our team probably outplayed them for 90 percent of it. But they scored timely goals, and that's just what cost us."
After 51 days in the bubble away from family and friends, the Golden Knights will leave with nothing.
"Never had one complaint or a crack in the commitment of the guys to pursue the goal of trying to win the Stanley Cup here," DeBoer said. "I thought our group was exceptional.
"You know, I didn't even prepare something to talk to them about after the game tonight, because I just didn't think we would lose. I felt even the games we lose here in the bubble, I felt we could win, and we could have won.
"So, you know, it's the toughest trophy in hockey to win, and it's an unbelievably tough road, and we'll learn some things from this about what works in the playoffs and how you score in the playoffs."
The good news is that the Golden Knights should keep contending. They must settle the goalie situation between Lehner, who took over the starting job and can become an unrestricted free agent Oct. 9, and Marc-Andre Fleury, who is the face of the franchise and signed for two more seasons. Otherwise, the vast majority of the roster is set. DeBoer hasn't had even a half-season of hockey with them yet.
"I'm still getting used to and getting to know the group," DeBoer said.
But no matter when next season begins, it's going to be a long, long offseason.
"This year is probably the best, most skilled team that I've played on in my career, and to not win the Stanley Cup …" Smith said, his voice trailing off. "You know, that was our one goal. We didn't want anything short of that, so definitely feel defeated. It's positive looking into the future, but that's not really what we're doing right now."