All good things must come to an end, which applies to the Stars vs Kraken series. In a close Game 7, the Stars defeat the Kraken and set up a date with the Vegas Golden Knights. What a game it was and all the story lines and trends that came with it.
Stars vs Kraken Series Ends In Seven Games
Oettingers Ability To Bounce Back
If there is one thing that was likely to happen in Game Seven, it was a bounce-back performance by Jake Oettinger. After every loss this series, he went on to win the next game. However, Oettinger made it count when the game mattered most. After being embarrassed and pulled in Game 6, Oettinger shut the door. The team in front of him was solid, but he was brilliant between the pipes. Oettinger went on to stop 22 of 23 and had a .957 save percentage. In addition, he had a 1.21 goals saved above expected. Both goaltender were great in Game Seven, but Oettinger prevailed. Oettinger made history as well with the second most saves in first two game sevens (86).
The Roope Hintz Show
GO OUT OF YOUR MINDS, DALLAS!@BudLight | #BudLightCelly | #TexasHockey pic.twitter.com/xPpzXOTFiV
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) May 16, 2023
Ladies and Gentlemen welcome to the Roope Hintz show. If the hockey world didn’t know about him, they do now. If you can name a most valuable player for this series, it would be Hintz. Any game prior to Game Seven is washed away at that point. But Hintz made his mark on the series. Hintz would score the opening goal on the 53rd-shot attempt for the Stars. After picking the pocket of Jamie Oleksiak, he went bar down on Phillip Grubauer.
In the end the Stars won, but Hintz was huge this series. He went on to score four goals in the series and nine in total. In fact, he scored nine goals in his first 44 playoff games. He now has nine in just 13 games this playoff run. His playoff points (19) are only one behind Connor McDavid.
Other Big Contributors
After showing no production in the teams first three games, Jason Robertson came alive. It was a huge key in the Stars vs Kraken series. Notoriously known this postseason for being a power play specialist, Robertson came alive at 5v5. And at the right time as well. In Game 4, Robertson notched an assist, but it was his play in Game 5 that stood out the most. Robertson was one of three different players with multipoint games at 5v5. Dallas went on to win that game 5-2. Robertson would finish the series with five assists and was held without a goal.
Captain America aka Joe Pavelski see a franchise record for a single series. Pavelski went on to score eight goals and lead the team in points (9). Max Dami had a monster series with eight points and Wyatt Johnston got the game-winner.
Seattle Firepower Not Enough At The End
No knock to the Seattle Kraken, they do not have a surplus of firepower. But what they do have is heart and working hard as a team. The club had plenty of balanced scoring throughout the lineup this series, but it was not enough in Game 7. Game Seven was a dominant performance by the Stars defence. Dallas controlled possession (56.57 Corsi For) and dominated in generating chances. They led in xGoals 3.82-1.62. Seattle had a tough time getting into the zone and generating anything to make life hard for Oettinger.
What’s Next?
The Dallas Stars punched their ticket to the Conference Finals to take on the Vegas Golden Knights. Pete DeBoer does it again as he goes on a deep run his postseason behind the bench with his new team. It will be a rematch from 2020.
Seattle has a lot to be proud of. They knocked off the defending champions in seven games and took the Dallas Stars to the brink. In just their second year of existence, they went on a run in the playoffs. Exciting times lie ahead for the Kraken and their fans. They have a great coach, great players, and they made a big jump as a unit. Their summer begins earlier than they’d prefer, but what a run it was for them.
Main Photo: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
