What’s wrong with the Dallas Stars? Nothing, they’ve just run into the defending NHL champs

DALLAS — Coach Pete DeBoer addressed the media Wednesday night following a second straight playoff game in which he felt his top-seeded Dallas Stars played well, and yet the Stars trail their first-round series against the Golden Knights 2-0 as it shifts to Las Vegas.

“They’re the Stanley Cup champions. They’ve got everyone figured out,” DeBoer said despondently after the 3-1 loss. “They figured out everyone last year, too, so we’re not alone on that boat.”

The Stars began Wednesday night’s Game 2 with the desperation you’d expect from a team in their situation.

Dallas forward Mason Marchment laid a crushing blow on Zach Whitecloud behind the Vegas net in the opening minutes. Moments later, Jason Robertson sent Vegas captain Mark Stone whirling to the ice violently with a big reverse check. In total, the Stars dished out 24 hits in the opening period alone and 53 in the game.

The sold-out crowd at American Airlines Center rocked the building, especially when Robertson gave the home team an early lead with a power-play goal.

None of it fazed the defending champs.

Vegas absorbed the punishment with composure, weathered the early storm and escaped the first period with a 1-1 tie. Then the Golden Knights found their game, completely shut down the Stars’ high-powered offense and closed out a 3-1 win to take a commanding 2-0 series lead as they head back to Vegas.

“It’s typical when you win the first one on the road and you’re feeling good about yourself, and all of a sudden they’re punching you in the mouth a little bit and then you had better get going,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said after. “We did respond well to that.”

After an impressive 113-point regular season, the Stars entered the playoffs as one of the favorites to win it all. They’re one of the most complete teams in the league, with four lines of forwards who are legitimate scoring threats, a world-class defenseman and a stud goalie.

The Stars haven’t choked. In fact, they believe they’ve played relatively well in the opening two games of their first-round series. And yet, they find themselves in a 2-0 hole, heading to one of the most difficult venues to play in the NHL.

Dating back to last year’s Western Conference final, the Golden Knights have beaten the Stars in five straight games and nine of their last 11 meetings. At this point, the Dallas players appear to be out of answers.

“We played good enough to win the game and just didn’t do it,” Stars…