In Dallas, the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights and the top-seeded Stars are set to play one more game.
This deciding Game 7 in Dallas on Sunday night will conclude the first round in the Western Conference playoffs.
Veteran Stars forward Tyler Seguin expressed that they are not surprised to be in this situation and are looking forward to an exciting Game 7 at home.
Both Dallas and Vegas have won games at home, leading to a tie in the series, and the Knights forced a Game 7 with a 2-0 victory in Game 6 on Friday night.
Vegas captain Mark Stone stated that the team is familiar with high-stakes games and is prepared for the elimination round.
The Knights are preparing for their fourth Game 7 in franchise history, with the majority of their postseason roster having experience from the Cup title last year.
The winner of the Game 7 will advance to play Colorado in the second round, while the Stars or Knights will have their respective home or away advantage.
The only other NHL playoff game on Sunday marks the beginning of the second round in the Eastern Conference with Carolina facing the top-seeded New York Rangers.
Coach Pete DeBoer has an impressive record of 7-0 in Game 7s and has been involved in several crucial games with different teams.
DeBoer expressed his excitement about being part of Game 7s, highlighting the significance of these games as a coach.
Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy has a 2-2 record in Game 7s, all of which were with Boston from 2018 to 2022.
The Stars are about to play their 17th Game 7 in franchise history, with a 4-5 record since moving to Dallas from Minnesota.
THE GOALIES
The Knights are likely to keep Adin Hill as their goaltender for Game 7 after his outstanding performance in Game 6.
Coach Bruce Cassidy emphasized the importance of strong goaltending for both teams in this crucial series.
Neither Hill nor Logan Thompson has participated in a Game 7 for Vegas in this series.
Jake Oettinger, the 25-year-old Stars goalie, is preparing for his third consecutive Game 7.
Oettinger has experience in Game 7s, including a win against Seattle last year and a memorable performance in a 3-2 loss at Calgary.
Oettinger has blocked 65 out of 66 shots he faced in the third period or overtime in this series. The only goal that got past him was when Noah Hanifin scored midway through the third period of Game 6 to break a tie. Stone scored a late empty-net goal.
Seguin said Oettinger enjoys the pressure and performs well in big moments. He excels on a grand stage.
GAME 7 PLAYERS
Stars forward Joe Pavelski has a 7-3 record in Game 7s. Another victory would tie him with six other skaters for the most wins by a player in NHL history.
The 39-year-old Pavelski, who has the most career playoff goals for a U.S.-born player with 73, has not scored in this series.
Golden Knights teammates Alex Pietrangelo and Alec Martinez both have perfect 5-0 records in Game 7s. Pietrangelo has participated in only one for Vegas, while Martinez has played in two.
Seguin has been in eight Game 7s, winning three with Boston before being traded to Dallas. He holds a 2-3 record with the Stars, as do captain Jamie Benn and Radek Faksa.
