Vegas outshot Dallas 27-12 through two periods, before sitting on the lead and getting outshot 12-5 in the third.
"I think that first goal relieved a little bit of pressure, for sure," DeBoer said. "When we made the plays and put up the quality chances we did against Vancouver in Game 6 and 7 and you don't get rewarded for it and it's that tough, there's no doubt, it's human nature, it rattles you a little bit.
"I don't think that played any part in Game 1. We just didn't work hard enough. But tonight we got our game back, and I think once we got that first goal, we looked like we normally do, which is making plays and finding space and sticking pucks in the net."
Defenseman Nate Schmidt said after Game 1 it took too long for the Golden Knights "to get that energy, that fire, that bravado that you need." Asked how they regained it in Game 2, center Chandler Stephenson pointed to the first goal.
"We were snake-bitten for a while there, and I think that everybody was gripping their stick a little tight," Stephenson said. "We're at our best when we have that swagger and we're making plays and tough to defend. So it was nice to get that mojo back tonight and even the series."
Another way to look at it: The Golden Knights had confidence all along.
This team was 10-2 in the postseason before running into Demko, and Demko shined so bright because they were so dominant. Vegas was flat in Game 1 against Dallas mainly because they had played three games in four nights.
Forward Jonathan Marchessault shrugged off the lack of goals before Game 2 on Tuesday, saying, "For our group, I mean, it's a matter of time that we just unleash the offense we have in us. I'm not too worried about it."
Stastny pointed out how two goals in Game 2 were products of patience. He tapped in a pass from linemate Max Pacioretty, who waited for a defender to slide past before sending the puck across the low slot. Nosek finished a pretty tic-tac-toe passing play on a 3-on-1 rush: Stephenson to forward Nicolas Roy to Stephenson to Nosek.
"The biggest thing for us is, we stuck with our game," Stastny said. "I think sometimes when it's not going, then you try too much. Then you try that extra pass. Then you really try to pinpoint certain shots.
"And perfect example, like my goal, if we're getting too frustrated, then there's times where [Pacioretty] shoots that as quick as he can just to get a puck on net, but he takes that extra second.
"Or [Nosek's] goal. I think [Roy] makes a good play instead of firing that right away. I think he just one-touches it [right] back. It's three one-touch plays.
"It's confidence, I think. It's always been there. Game 1 wasn't our best game. Our legs weren't underneath us. We weren't ready to go. But I thought today, the way we came out and played that whole 60 minutes, was the way we kind of drew up the game plan and the way we've been playing all season."
Either way, the concern now belongs to the Stars. They scored on their first shot in Game 1. They haven't scored since.
