Two of the NHL’s heavyweights have been matched up within the first spherical of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, and the collection between the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights has been probably the most spectacular of the bracket so far.
To nobody’s shock, the 2 golf equipment have reached Sport 7 (7:30 p.m. ET, TBS), with a matchup in opposition to the Colorado Avalanche ready for the victor.
Which gamers can be most important to their staff’s success? And who will win the sport?
Who’s the one key participant you will be expecting the Stars?
Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporter: Jake Oettinger. The most important query going through Oettinger at this second is: What extra does this man must do to assist the Stars attain the second spherical? The reply is likely to be a shutout, given the tight margins of this collection.
His lowest save proportion since Sport 1 has been .920, and that got here in that 3-1 loss in Sport 2. However since then, Oettinger has posted an total save proportion of .944, together with a .960 in a Sport 6 loss. Getting targets from depth parts of the lineup will definitely assist his trigger, however the truth that he practically actually must be good says a lot a couple of collection that is been separated by so little.
Victoria Matiash, NHL analyst: Oettinger. The Stars’ beginning netminder, after permitting one objective on 29 pictures in Friday’s Sport 6 loss: “I really feel like [if] I play like that on Sunday, we’ll win.”
Onerous to argue! Rising sharper recreation by recreation in opposition to Vegas, Oettinger seems primed to place in his stingiest efficiency but. If that’s the case, he is doubtless proper about Dallas escaping this final collection throwdown with the victory.
Arda Öcal, NHL broadcaster: Jason Robertson. He wants a robust Sport 7 for Dallas to tug it out. He is been scoring — three targets and two assists in six video games — however he is additionally minus-4. In Sport 3 he linked effectively with rising scorer Wyatt Johnston — together with on the extra time winner.
These are the video games for which superstars should stand up. Robo had 18 factors in 19 playoff video games final season. I am in search of him to indicate up and present out in Sport 7.
Kristen Shilton, NHL reporter: Roope Hintz. It is exhausting to fathom Hintz has scored only one objective within the postseason, and has appeared removed from the difference-making middle he’d been all through the common season. There isn’t any time like the current for Hintz to seek out his kind.
Given how Hintz’s complete line with Joe Pavelski and Robertson has struggled at occasions within the collection, it will not be a singular effort from Hintz placing them again on observe. However after watching Sport 6 and seeing how rapidly Vegas can soar on an opponent, it is now or by no means for Hintz to match the Golden Knights’ depth. If he helps set a tone there, it would elevate his linemates and put the Stars on a profitable trajectory towards the second spherical.
Greg Wyshynski, NHL reporter: Joe Pavelski. I understand Pavs is 39 years outdated. I understand that he has gone scoreless on this collection — he hasn’t scored in opposition to Vegas up to now seven playoff video games total — and is shotless in his previous three video games. I understand his line with Hintz and Robertson was cratered at 5-on-5 in Sport 6 (minus-7 in shot makes an attempt).
However in a collection this shut, with a goalie on the opposite facet as seemingly locked in as Adin Hill, that is historically Pavelski Time. A time when pucks shot from the purpose bounce off of his numerous extremities and into the online. He is one of many postseason’s preeminent “outdated guys with no Cup.” It is time for him to assist Dallas take one step nearer to elevating it.
Who’s the one key participant you will be expecting the Golden Knights?
Clark: Jonathan Marchessault. For all we all know, there’s an opportunity this could possibly be the final time we see him in a Golden Knights sweater. The reigning Conn Smythe winner is a pending unrestricted free agent who had 4 factors within the first 4 video games of the collection, however was held with no level up to now two contests.
He is been lively, as evidenced by the 17 pictures he has recorded. However after we take into consideration what made the Golden Knights so formidable final 12 months, it was having gamers who could possibly be trusted in among the most tough conditions. Marchessault was on the prime of that listing, and it seems he could possibly be once more in Sport 7.
Matiash: Jack Eichel. Serving as a key issue early for the Knights, Eichel scored three targets and three assists by way of the primary 4 video games of this playoff set. Since then, one helper and 5 pictures complete up to now two. A productively clutch efficiency from Marchessault’s linemate — who led his membership with 1.08 factors per recreation this common season — would go a great distance in swinging issues in Vegas’s favor.
Öcal: Noah Hanifin. He has two game-winning targets this collection, together with in Sport 6. Everyone knows that depth wins video games, collection and Stanley Cups; but it surely helps when your stars shine the brightest. Aside from a difficult Sport 3, he is been fairly good on this collection, and if Hanifin has one other recreation the place he can present a spark, and even factors (he has 5 this collection), that bodes effectively for VGK.
Shilton: Ivan Barbashev. Suppose again to the playoffs final 12 months, when Barbashev had seven targets and 18 factors in 22 video games. The truth that he has simply 4 assists on this collection up to now — however has been producing some terrific probabilities — suggests Barbashev could possibly be on the cusp of a breakout.
Sport 7 is when all the things is on the road. High strains is likely to be neutralized. It is a staff’s depth that may swing an consequence, and Barbashev is poised to be that man for Vegas. He has the talent and historical past in his favor. Now it is nearly executing once more, and discovering his second to actually influence Vegas on the rating sheet.
Wyshynski: Adin Hill. After Logan Thompson began the primary three video games of the collection, Hill comes strolling in along with his hockey bag and says “Hey, I heard you wanted a goalie who may publish a .938 save proportion and a 1.52 goals-against common and pitch a shutout whereas going through elimination?”
Adin Hill is doing the Adin Hill factor once more. In his previous 18 playoff video games, Hill has a .933 save proportion and a 2.09 goals-against common. In his previous 62 regular-season video games, he has a .912 save proportion and a 2.62 GAA. There’s an alchemy between the best way he performs and the best way the Knights play in entrance of him within the playoffs. He is already on the best way to being their postseason goaltending savior — once more.
The ultimate rating can be _____.
Clark: 1-0 Stars in OT. Here is the fact of this collection. Neither staff permits that a lot offensively. However that is what occurs when one staff is making an attempt to win a consecutive Stanley Cup and the opposite has constructed a roster that is constructed to succeed in the Cup Ultimate after reaching the Western Convention finals final season.
It quantities to 2 groups that thrive from capitalizing on errors, and Sport 7 can be determined by which one makes the most expensive miscue.
Matiash: 3-2 Stars. After a cautious, tentative and tight first interval, either side will loosen up and supply us with a extra entertaining affair much like the Stars’ victory in Sport 5. Solely this time, Pavelski — Greg is bang-on about this being “Pavelski Time” — scores the sport winner as a substitute of Robertson.
Öcal: 2-1 Stars in OT. Low-scoring collection, each groups extremely stacked, will not need to make any errors in Sport 7, tight checking. I’d have picked 1-0, truthfully, if Ryan hadn’t already. However this one appears like an instant-classic OT thriller.
Shilton: 4-3 Stars. Regardless of some tight video games earlier within the collection, this one appears like a recreation that can be broad open from the beginning. However Dallas has been the higher staff total, and that ought to carry it by way of to 1 extra victory. Vegas will not make it straightforward, although, and the Stars must channel their defensive habits (which have been particularly good at house) to maintain the Golden Knights’ stars from operating wild. Ultimately, all these margins can be slim, however Dallas has the fortitude to outlast Vegas’ assault.
Wyshynski: 3-1 Stars. The Golden Knights performed their most full recreation of the collection in Sport 6, and it was nonetheless a one-bounce recreation till Mark Stone’s empty-netter.
Dallas has performed higher defensively on house ice on this collection (1.97 anticipated targets in opposition to at 5-on-5) than on the street (2.33). They’ll get the matchups they need with home-ice benefit. That Sport 6 loss was extra disappointing than debilitating. Coach Pete DeBoer is 7-0 in Sport 7. He’ll have the Stars assured and prepared for his or her second. The Stars will break an intense 1-1 recreation with a objective halfway by way of the third interval, and Hintz will ice it with an empty-netter to advance.