No place like home: Stars look to right the ship on home ice in Game 3

Playoff formats in pro sports have always fascinated me.

For the longest time, I've grappled with the question of how a champion should be determined. Should the top half of the league qualify for the postseason like in hockey and basketball? Or should it be a select few from the tops of each division, like football and baseball?

What about the number of games to determine a winner in a given round? Should one game suffice when judging for a champion? Or should teams be given multiple chances to respond in a series format?

While most sports fans likely agree that the current formats in place fit each respective league nicely, it's an interesting concept to ponder.

Such is the case with the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

With a maximum of seven games available to determine a winner in each round, it's amazing just how much weight a single game can seemingly carry.

Win the first game and you get an early boost out of the gate. Take the first two and you feel like you're in full control. Win three in a row at any point and you feel invincible.

On the flip side, a Game 1 loss can add a little uneasiness to the room. However, a win in Game 2 can provide not only relief, but a newfound confidence.

But what if you lose the first two? The opponent is halfway to the finish line and you still haven't burst out of the starting gate yet. That seems as though it could be a crippling blow to a team's hopes of winning a series.

It's where the Dallas Stars find themselves for not only the first time in the 2023 playoffs, but the first time since the 2014 First Round against Anaheim.

After opening the Western Conference Final against Vegas with a disappointing overtime loss on Friday, the Stars suffered a similar fate in Game 2 on Sunday. But instead of rallying to force OT, 57 minutes of positive progress disappeared on a bad turnover and defensive breakdown. Jack Eichel made an impressive pass, Jonathan Marchessault buried a shot in the slot, and a 2-1 lead became a 2-2 tie for the Stars.

In the extra period, a bad line change by Dallas offered the Golden Knights a golden opportunity and they capitalized. And just like that, what was so close to being a tied series heading back to Texas turned into an 0-2 hole. It was sudden and unexpected, but so it goes in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Granted, there were some bright spots. After struggling to find their structure and letting Vegas dictate play for large chunks of Game 1, the Stars looked much more like their normal selves in Game 2. Miro Heiskanen scored less than three minutes into the game, Jason Robertson scored his second goal in as many games and the Stars controlled the pace with a stifling defensive approach.

But in the end, it wasn't enough, and Vegas once again clawed back.

"We've got to find ways and bear down," Stars defenseman Ryan Suter said. "We can't give up odd-man rushes. We had a chance to close it out in the third and we didn't. Learn from it and get ready for the next one."

But what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, right? Not to mention that, in the big picture, these are just two games in a sprint to four.

And so, the series shifts to Dallas for a critical two-game set beginning with Game 3 on Tuesday night. It's back to home ice, where the Stars are a sturdy 5-2 this postseason. That includes a current three-game winning streak where they outscored the opposition 11-5.

"If you're looking for good things, we're going home," Robertson said. "We've been a good home team all of the playoffs. We have a great fan base there. We're just looking to get back on track."

The Stars boast an NHL-best +12 goal differential at home in this year's playoffs. Their special teams have been strong, clipping at 32.0% on the power play and 89.5% on the penalty kill. And Jake Oettinger, who hasn't lost three consecutive starts since February, owns a .929 save percentage and 2.07 GAA at home this postseason.

Not to mention the energy from a home crowd experiencing its first Western Conference Final action since 2008.

"We've got to do what they did," Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. "We have to hold serve here at home. It is an advantage and the home crowd gives you an energy at this time of year. We have to use that. I'm excited about coming home, playing in front of our fans and hopefully scratching our way back into this series."

Losing consecutive games for the first time this postseason hurts. Not being able to steal home ice away from the higher seed is disappointing. So is scoring the first goal in both games and losing the lead. And both losses coming in overtime where you're a shot away from flipping the series script is just frustrating.

You could very well consider this a rock bottom of sorts. But the best part about hitting rock bottom is the rock part. You discover the solid part of you that can't be broken down any further. That's the part that can carry the Stars back into the fight.

"It's not unfamiliar territory for us," DeBoer said about facing pressure. "We've faced a lot of things, including straight out elimination in the playoffs. I don't think we're overwhelmed by the situation. You just have to grind out one win and the series looks different."

He's got a point. Not only were the Stars on the brink of elimination in Game 7 against Seattle last week, but they were also down 2-1 in each of the first two series. And after a flat Game 3 effort turned into a lopsided loss against both the Wild and Kraken, the Stars bounced back. Those efforts ended up helping Dallas flip the series on its head.

This time around, they will look to use frustrating defeats as fuel. The effort and composure were there in Game 2, but it unfortunately wasn't enough to overcome a handful of late mistakes. That comes with a higher caliber opponent and a bigger stage as they continue their push.

"For the first time in the playoffs, we're not asking for a response to a poor or below average effort," DeBoer said on Monday. "We're asking for a response to losing a game. It is a different response we're looking for. But at the same time, we have that in us and I think that desperation will be there."

The Stars lost 3 consecutive games just twice during the regular season. And when those skids came along, they were quick to right the ship with a full team effort. And after finding their footing and showing their strengths in Game 2, the next step is finding a higher gear back at home. Their playoff lives could very well depend on it.

"We've been a response team all year," DeBoer said. "It's the first time in the playoffs that we've lost two in a row. I'm excited about our response."

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.