Book it, Vegas are the 2024 back-to-back Stanley Cup champions.
They have the best centerline of the league (I mean they can have a 30-goal 60-point scorer to center their fourth line...), their top-4 defencemen are elite, they can have the luxury to scratch a guy that has three rings, their bottom-6 can be part of a top-6 everywhere else. They have complete versatile players than can adapt and play in all situations.
It's the first time of the season that the Golden Knights have a full roster including their new aquisitions, and it's scary. Hanifin and Hertl are perfect fits. The only question mark remains the goaltending but this relative uncertainty is perfectly handled by the best D corps in the League.
That being said, it's a series of details so far. Both teams are really close but DeBoer is completely outcoached by Cassidy and his defensive system consisting in clogging the slot and push forwards to attack from the outside. The Stars just can't handle and they are struggling like hell to get significant scoring chances from close.
I'm not pissed about the Stars being down 2-0, it's the way to get behind 2-0. Öttinger was sub-average in game #1 while having a ****** start and palyed trailing hockey for the rest of the game. The Stars did a good job in game #2, very good first period, Öttinger was solid, the forecheck was good, they did what they had to do but two major pee-wee brain farts led to two Vegas goals. Again, a series of details, but no way you can win when you make such mistakes.
No disrespect to the Rangers, the Panthers and other very good teams but with their full roster Vegas is ahead IMO.