Isn’t it funny how quickly expectations change?
The Dallas Stars missed the playoffs for five straight seasons and attendance was down in the dumps. The expectation was to get better. The Stars underwent a re-branding effort that also brought Jim Nill and Lindy Ruff into the fold. Nill proceeded to acquire Tyler Seguin. The Stars got better.
Not many expected them to make the playoffs in that first season (2013-14). They found a way in and took on the top-seeded Anaheim Ducks. The expectation changed to “put up a fight in the playoffs”.
Up two with a couple minutes to go in a do-or-die game six, the expectation changed to “let’s win this series”.