Stars focused on correcting mistakes in Game 2 of Western 2nd Round

DALLAS -- Sometimes, it's just about talking it out and then putting that talk into action.

That's what the Dallas Stars were doing Wednesday following their 5-4 overtime loss to the Seattle Kraken in Game 1 of the Western Conference Second Round on Tuesday.

"I think our group is really good about honest conversations, what we did well, what we have to fix and getting it fixed," coach Peter DeBoer said Wednesday. The Stars host the Kraken in Game 2 of the best-of-7 series at American Airlines Center on Thursday (9:30 p.m. ET; TNT, CBC, SN, TVAS).

"I think you don't have the regular season you have and get to the second round of the playoffs and get down to the final eight teams unless you have an honest group," DeBoer said. "That's probably where it isn't unique. The eight teams standing probably have the same characteristics, and that's an ability to assess your game honestly and fix things moving forward and keep the things you're doing well."

One thing that went very well for Dallas was the return of forward Joe Pavelski, who scored four goals in a game for the first time in his NHL career. It was his first game back after missing five games in concussion protocol.

RELATED: [Complete Stars vs. Kraken series coverage]

DeBoer was happy with that second line of Pavelski, left wing Mason Marchment and right wing Max Domi; Domi had three assists and Marchment had one Tuesday, but more is needed from the rest of the forward group.

"We just need to hit the net, maybe," forward Jason Robertson said of the Stars, who had 35 shots on Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer but also 18 missed shots and had 20 shots blocked. "Not only hit the net, but get it through their guys who are blocking the shots and getting in front and just create more scrambles and try to create more chances."

Dallas also wants shore up its defense after allowing four goals in the first period of Game 1, including three in 52 seconds that turned a 2-1 lead into a 4-2 deficit.

So, how to slow down the Kraken, who bring the same amount of speed and skill as the Stars?

"We've got to be alert all the time," Dallas defenseman Jani Hakanpaa said. "We've got to know where everybody's at and then the things we've been doing all year, having good gaps, our forwards have been tracking back for us. That allows us to do that. Just trust our game with that, but you've got to be alert for sure."

Goalie Jake Oettinger allowed five goals for the first time in his brief Stanley Cup Playoffs career Tuesday, but his teammates aren't worried about his response; during the regular season, Oettinger was 17-1-3 with a 1.97 goals-against average and .936 save percentage in games following losses.

"I'm sure his mindset is more, he's already dialed in, but he knows if he could have done something better, he's going to respond the right way," Robertson said. "He attacks it, he's proactive to whatever comes toward him, and that's something we all admire about him."

Dallas bounced back with victories after each of its first-round losses to the Minnesota Wild. After losing 3-2 in double overtime in Game 1, it won 7-3 in Game 2, and following a 5-1 loss in Game 3, the Stars won 3-2 in Game 4.

They wanted to take that first one against the Kraken at home too, but are ready to get back to it Thursday.

"We know we can do better," Pavelski said. "One thing is their compete will probably go up in certain areas and execution, all those things. It's a team that had our attention right from the start. We knew they were coming in, they beat a good team (the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche in seven games), up and down the lineup they're deep. So yeah, we need to be better ourselves."