from Mark Spector of Sportsnet,

You find a style that works for you, and you ply that trade all the way to the Stanley Cup Final. You play the first two games against the powerhouse Tampa Bay Lightning and do pretty well, earning a split and giving the Bolts all they could handle in the loss.

Then Game 3 comes along, and there’s… nothing.

None of the responsible, stifling defensive play the Dallas Stars have trademarked, with their best players making some of the biggest gaffes.

After being that good for this long, where on earth does it go? Rick Bowness could only chuckle.

“That’s exactly what we were just talking about with the players,” the Dallas head coach said post-game, his Stars stinging from a 5-2 shellacking that leaves them in arrears in this Stanley Cup Final, two games to one....

Speaking of not happening, while each member of the Bolts top line had a goal and an assist Wednesday, Dallas’ top unit of Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin and Alex Radulov went pointless. Benn and Seguin have yet to collect a point in this Final, and Bowness was asked what he’s going to do to squeeze some offence out of his No. 1 line.

“That’s a good question,” he offered. “We’re giving them the ice time, getting them out there as much as we can. They’ve got to figure it out. It’s as simple as that.

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