Seattle goes 7 again, this time against Stars in NHL’s only playoff game Monday
Stars coach Pete DeBoer says he will complete a Game 7 at home every day of the week. He has another one Monday night, albeit his first with Dallas.
DALLAS — Stars coach Pete DeBoer says he will complete a Game 7 at home every day of the week. He has another one Monday night, albeit his first with Dallas.
The Seattle Krakenin their first postseason, already playing their second Game 7 on the road.
“I think the pressure will be on both teams,” said Kraken forward Jordan Eberle, who scored twice in Saturday night’s 6-3 win. “I think we’ve obviously been through this as a group before.”
The NHL’s only Monday playoff game between the Stars and Kraken will be only Game 7 in the league this postseason. Last year there were five games in Game 7 in the first round, then there were none in this playoff.
There was a chance for another. Edmonton hosted Vegas in Game 6 of the other West series on Sunday night and looked to equalize and force a Game 7 on Tuesday night.
As unrest continued in the West, the East Conference Finals were already settled after the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers completed their five-game second-round streak.
DeBoer has won all six of his previous Game 7s involving three different teams. Five of those wins came at home, with the other in the 2020 playoffs during the pandemic in the NHL bubble in Canada.
“The reason you play all season is to have home ice like that in Game 7, and we deserved that,” DeBoer said. “Hopefully we’ll use that to our advantage.”
His first game with the Stars comes exactly a year after losing 3-2 in overtime in Game 7 in Calgary.
Jake Oettinger had 64 saves in that game against the Flames before Johnny Gaudreau’s OT goal ended the first-round streak. The Stars keeper, 24, allowed four goals on 18 shots on Saturday before being substituted 4 1/2 minutes into the start of the second period – he is 4-0 after losses this postseason.
“We didn’t give him any help, and that’s torture,” DeBoer said. “At this point we’re looking for a spark for the team and looking ahead to make sure Jake has (energy), the fresher goalie for Game 7. All of those things come into play.”
Seattle forward Jaden Schwartz is 5-0 in Game 7 of his career, including wins with St. Louis over Dallas in 2016 and 2019.
The Kraken ended their opening round with a win in Game 7 in Colorado when Oliver Bjorkstrand scored both goals and Yanni Gourde set up both goals, knocking out last year’s Stanley Cup winners.
“I’m sure there are some things we can apply, but this is a different series,” said Seattle coach Dave Hakstol. “We’re not only playing against an opponent with great players, top players at the top, but also with good playing strength. … A slightly different look for Game 7.”
SENIOR RATING
Joe Pavelski has eight goals against Seattle, already setting the Stars’ record in a single playoff series. No NHL player has scored more goals aged 38 or older in a single postseason.
His 72 postseason career goals are the most scored by a US-born player. This makes Alex Ovechkin the most active player and ranks 14th on the all-time list.
Pavelski, 38, will play 7 in his 10th career game – only nine active players have appeared in that many games. It’s his third with Dallas.
GRUB’S GAME 7s
Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer, who stopped 20 shots on Saturday, was spectacular in the decisive game against the Avalanche with 34 saves.
In his only other Game 7, Grubauer was Colorado’s goaltender in the 2019 playoffs and made 27 saves in a 3-2 second-round loss in San Jose when DeBoer was Sharks coach and Pavelski was their captain. The winning goaltender in that game was Martin Jones, now Grubauer’s substitute in Seattle.
STARS IN SEVEN
The last Game 7 for the Stars came in the second round of the 2020 NHL bubble playoffs when Joel Kiviranti scored a hat trick after scoring 7 1/2 minutes into overtime against Colorado. The second assist for the game-winner came from Jamie Oleksiak, who Seattle got in the expansion draft two years ago.
Dallas’ last home game 7 came in the second round in 2016 when St. Louis scored three goals in the first period to win 6-1. Those two teams did it again in 2019 in the second round as the Blues won 2-1 at home in double OT en route to winning the Stanley Cup.
