A berth in the NHL’s Western Conference finals is on the line Monday night, as the
The playoffs are here. Get caught up on all the latest news and preview content:
• Schedule, scores, highlights
• Conn Smythe Watch
• Wyshynski’s playoff bracket
• Top 50 players in the playoffs
• Updated series odds, Cup futures
• Subscribe to ESPN+
• Stream the NHL on ESPN
Matiash: Captain Jamie Benn and his 3-1 record in Game 7s will set the tone in the dressing room and on the ice for the Stars. Before failing to register a point in Game 6, the veteran leader contributed at least an assist in all previous playoff meetings with Seattle. By getting back on the scoring track — and contributing in all other facets of the game — he’ll serve as one key difference-maker for Dallas in this crucial tilt.
Shilton: Joe Pavelski. He has scored 10 points in eight playoff games so far. And no one will be more motivated than Pavelski to get Dallas onto the next round. He is a veteran who has been chasing the Stanley Cup dream his entire career, and opportunities like the one Dallas has now don’t come often. Look for Pavelski to do everything in his power to get the Stars over the line.
Wyshynski: Jake Oettinger, full stop. There’s a stat many Stars fans can quote like scripture ahead of Game 7: Since the end of last season’s playoffs, Oettinger is a remarkable 23-2-3 after a loss this season. That includes a 4-0 mark in the playoffs. When Pete DeBoer pulled him in Game 6, the coach said he was “looking down the road to make sure Jake’s got energy.” In other words, it wasn’t so much trying to goose a flat team as making sure Oettinger was rested and ready for his next bounce-back game.
What is your final score prediction
Clark: Look at the two items that have guided this series: Which team can be aggressive early, and which one can explode for the big period. Whoever can do one of those two things, if not both, will win this game. Let’s say the Kraken win 5-3 (with the realization the Stars could do the same).
Matiash: Veteran leadership and experience give the Stars — who haven’t lost two in a row this postseason — the edge in this one. Dallas takes it 6-3 over the Kraken, who have every right to hold their heads high in what’s been an impressive run in the second season of the franchise.
Shilton: It feels like this will be a high-scoring affair. Maybe not defense-optional, exactly. But after the way Game 6 played out, and knowing there’s nothing left to hold back for, I expect both sides to be assertive offensively and fire everything on net. I’m anticipating plenty of chances off the rush and a good deal of back and forth. Going with Dallas over Seattle 5-4.
Wyshynski: Dallas wins 4-2. Even with a stronger Oettinger outing, the Kraken don’t go down without a fight. But the underlying numbers tell us that Dallas should have probably put this series to bed already; the Stars’ underlying numbers defensively at 5-on-5 over the past two games have been stellar, and they should get the saves from Oettinger in Game 7. That plus the combination of the home crowd and the Stars’ desperation should be enough to advance Dallas to the conference finals.
