Peter DeBoer, the experienced coach of the Dallas Stars, expressed concerns about his team's performance following consecutive trips to the Western Conference Final. DeBoer pondered whether the Stars would experience a slow start or a post-playoff hangover. However, the Stars have started the season impressively with a 5-1-0 record.
On the other hand, some Stanley Cup contenders in the Western Conference, such as Colorado, Edmonton, and Nashville, have struggled early in the season. These teams combined to lose 13 of their first 17 games, causing a shakeup in the league standings.
