For their first attempt at the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Seattle Kraken are giving their fans a very exciting but tense experience.
two playoff series. Now the second game is 7.
Seattle’s Jordan Eberle said, “You can hear these games make playoff hockey fun.”
Eberle scored twice, Eli Tolvanen had a goal and two assists, and the Kraken beat the Dallas Stars 6-3 on Saturday night to force a decisive Game 7 in their Western Conference semifinal series.
Tolvanen’s goal early in the second half gave Seattle a 3–1 lead. Rookie Ty Courty scored his third of the playoffs on a wrist shot less than three minutes into the game, and the Kraken overcame several fumbles from the Stars to send the series to Texas.
“We were prepared tonight. In the last two games, I think they could have been a more prepared team to start with,” Tolvanan said. “That was the big key today. All four lines were ready to play.
Matty Beniers and Yanni Korte each had a goal and an assist for Seattle, who advanced to the second Game 7 in their short playoff history after defeating eventual Stanley Cup champion Colorado 2–1 in the first-round decider. , The Kraken are the sixth team in league history to go to Game 7 in each of the franchise’s first two playoff series.
“We had a goal. “When we wake up tomorrow morning, we want to make sure we’re still one of six teams and have a chance to play in Game 7,” said Seattle coach Dave Hakstol.” We know test. We know the challenge. It’s going to be big, but we’ll be ready.
Mason Marchment, Joe Pavelski and Joel Quiranta scored for Dallas. Oettinger allowed four goals on 18 shots before being pulled 4 1/2 minutes into the second period. Scott Wedgwood came in and stopped nine of 10 shots.
I mean, his life was on the line. He played hockey with guts and played a good game,” said Dallas captain Jamie Penn.
The Stars last played Game 7 in Edmonton in the NHL bubble in the second round of the 2020 playoffs, when Dallas defeated Colorado 5-4 in overtime. It would be Game 7 in Dallas after the Stars lost 6–1 to St. Louis in the 2016 second round, allowing three goals in the first period.
Pavelski scored his 72nd career playoff goal and eighth of the series to tie Alex Ovechkin for the most playoff goals among active players.
And it could have been more. Pavelski nearly scored a second goal in the opening seconds of the third period, but his shot hit the post and Heiskanen’s rebound went overboard. Minutes later, Jason Robertson’s slotted shot hit the same post and slid out of harm’s way.
Seattle sealed the win when Beniers completed a 2-on-1 pass from Eberle at 8:43 of the third period following Kraken’s penalty kick. But 16 seconds later, Kivarantha Thomas deflected Grubauer’s shot from the spot to pull the Stars within 5–3.
The final few minutes were tense for Seattle, until Eberle opened the scoring with 58 seconds remaining.
“We have nothing to lose and obviously we are up against the wall,” Eberle said. “So we’re going to try the same in Game 7.”
Grubauer was outstanding in goal for Seattle, especially in the second half when Dallas pushed. He made 11 saves during this period.
Oettinger was pulled after leaving Gary’s goal, and his 24-minute, 23-second run on the ice was the shortest start of his career.
After Oettinger’s own early shot at 8:59 of the first period, Korte gave Seattle the start they needed. Marchant pulled the Stars closer 31 seconds later, but Eberle’s power play goal restored Seattle’s lead 16:46 into the period.
Dallas coach Pete DeBoer said, “When the other team is hungry in an elimination game, when you’re on the road, you at least have to be the smartest team.” “I felt like we made mistakes in the first period and drained his energy.”
