At least we’re getting one Game 7 in Round 2. The Seattle Kraken avoided the franchises’ first-ever postseason elimination as they thrashed the Stars 6-3 in Game 6 to force the first (and perhaps only) Game 7 of the Second Round.
At least all the Second Round series aren’t going to be wrapped up early.
The Seattle Kraken gave their fans one more terrific performance to cheer (for now, at least) as they routed Jake Oettinger from the Dallas Stars net with four early goals on just 14 shots, giving way to an easy 6-3 win that’ll ensure an all-decisive Game 7 will be played to determine which team will make the Western Conference Finals. And, even though this series has probably been the least interesting for most hockey fans given the two team’s geographical locations, I’m glad it’s going the full stretch.
As I said, this is easily the least talked about series in the Second Round as it’s not only between two relatively obscure Western Conference teams (Kraken have only two years in the league; Stars have only been in Dallas for 30 years after starting in hockey-rich Minnesota), but it’s also between two historically unsuccessful franchises…in the minds of the usual media talking heads.
Now, such a statement is true about the Kraken as they’ve only been in the league for two years and have never won their division, but the Stars have actually been one of the most quietly successful NHL teams since their arrival in Dallas all the way back in 1993. Since being called the Dallas Stars, the team has won 8 division titles, two President’s Trophies (1998, 1999), three Clarance S. Campbell trophies (winners of the Western Conference), and won the 1999 Stanley Cup against the Buffalo Sabres 4-2.
But, since this is a Dallas team and hockey is generally seen as a “northern sport”, the Stars (and the Kraken for that matter as they are in Seattle, not Canada) get little to no media coverage. Nevertheless, the series deserves a lot more attention with the all-decisive Game 7 now officially happening due to the Kraken’s fantastic Game 7 win. And, it truly was a great victory.
Despite facing elimination for the first time all playoffs long (and the first time in franchise history), the Kraken came out flying as they racked up numerous chances nearly a half dozen shots on goal, and a great net-drive finish by Yanni Gourde (1 G, 1 A, 2 PTS) before the Stars even got of the locker room. Or at least it felt that way.
Dallas was surprisingly super flat to start out that game as they ended up getting out shot 16-5 in just the 1st period and outscored 2-1 as Jordan Eberle (2 G, 1 A, 3 PTS) scored a sick power-play goal to close out the period.
And it didn’t get any better in the 2nd period as even though they ended up outshooting the Kraken 12-8 and getting far more physical, Seatle scored twice more to increase the score up to 4-2 and chase Jake Oettinger (14 saves, .778 SV%) out of the Dallas net.
I don’t know if it was the pressure of the moment or the way the Kraken forwards were forechecking, but the Stars defense was utterly atrocious as they must have turned the puck over 20-25 times in the opening two periods.
And, as it usually does, all of those turnovers resulted in the puck going in the back of the Stars’ net as they found themselves down 5-2 in no time once the 3rd period began, making it impossible to comeback against a Kraken team that can literally score from all lines and angles. Seriously, a member of all four Kraken forward lines registered at least a point in this game, while five of the six Kraken defenders finished the game with a +/- rating of at least +1.
That’s hard to do for even the best team’s when they give up 3 goals to the opponent, let alone a Kraken team with “misfit” players.
Now, I think Game 7 is almost impossible to predict as the tie could go either way depending on who shows up: the star players or the role players.
If the Dallas stars, such as Jason Robertson (0 G, 1 A, 1 PT, 0 +/-), Tyler Seguin (0 G, 1 A, 1 PT, -1 +/-), Jamie Benn (0 PTS, -2 +/-), Roope Hintz (0 PTS, 0 +/-), and Joe Pavelski (1 G, 0 A, 1 PT, -1 +/-), collective score just three points and have a +/- rating of -4, they’re going to get blown out by this Kraken side.
However, if the Stars defense is able to shut down the Kraken’s forward lines as they did in Games 2 and 5, then the Stars will be able to steamroll Seattle through sheer talent disparity alone.
Game 7 is going to be an absolute battle…and I’m all here for it!
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