Four teams still stand in this year’s hockey season.
The Dallas Stars are one of those teams after a thrilling Game 7 victory against the Seattle Kraken.
The Western Conference Final is set with the Stars and Golden Knights facing off again.
Game 7 against the Kraken is one that Stars fans will remember for a long time.
A thrilling series against a tenacious team is over, and the Stars are now in hockey’s final four teams.
This upcoming series against the Golden Knights is their biggest test so far. The Stars now need to reset after a long 7-game series.
Game 7
Game 7 will last as a memorable game for a long time. Several firsts occurred with that Stars win. The Stars won a Game 7 against a team other than the Colorado Avalanche for the first time since moving to Dallas. They are also the first team to eliminate the Seattle Kraken in the playoffs. Stars fans erupted when Roope Hintz opened the scoring in the 2nd period. Another goal from Wyatt Johnston padded the lead.
A Kraken goal with under 20 seconds elevated the blood pressure of Stars fans everywhere. The Kraken had another chance in the final seconds, but the Stars held on for the Game 7 win.
The Stars eliminated the Kraken to move on to the Western Conference Final.
Western Conference Final
The Vegas Golden Knights are in another Western Conference Final matchup with the Stars. The Stars won the last one in 5 games during the 2020 season. Each team is now 4 wins away from the Stanley Cup Final. The Stars start on the road with Game 1 on Friday night. Vegas is a much different animal than the Kraken.
Only two of their players have a +/- of less than 0 in the playoffs, while both of them are a -1. The Golden Knights are the #1 seed, so the Stars are starting on the road for the first time these playoffs.
Top Stars Performers
Joe Pavelski and Roope Hintz lit the lamps frequently in that series against the Kraken. Pavelski tied a team record with 8 goals in that series, including 4 in Game 1. Hintz has 19 points in 13 games this postseason, and these players are necessary for this upcoming series. Jason Robertson is 2nd on the team in points but only has 2 goals in these playoffs so far. This top-line must deliver against the Golden Knights.
The Stars far exceeded expectations so far this season. Being in the Western Conference Final puts this as a successful season for the Stars. They now have sights on going further because why not them? In terms of wins, the Stars are only halfway there. These last 8 wins are the hardest to come by, and their biggest test begins Friday night.
Photo: Dallas Stars Twitter
