The Dallas Stars failed to clinch the Division title last game, but have another chance to clinch against the Seattle Kraken.
After a seven month regular season, only two games remain for the Dallas Stars, and only one more win stands in the way of clinching a Central Division title.
Less than a year ago, a matchup between the Stars and the Seattle Kraken meant far more than this Saturday matinee. The two teams battled through a seven game series in round two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and Dallas prevailed in a 2-1 deciding final game.
This season, the Kraken regressed from 100 points down to 79 points with four games remaining and were eliminated from playoff contention on April 3. Seattle only won four of 14 games in March, including an eight game losing streak. By the trade deadline, the Kraken were sellers, and by April, all hopes for a repeat of last year's improbable playoff run were extinguished.
Dallas and goaltender Jake Oettinger shut out Seattle 3-0 in their last meeting to close out March. The two teams were headed in different directions, as Dallas had just clinched a playoff berth the game prior to that meeting in Seattle.
Wyatt Johnston opened the scoring with less than two minutes remaining in the second period, and added an assist on a Roope Hintz empty netter in the third. Joe Pavelski also tallied a power play goal at the beginning of the third period. Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord made 27 saves and earned the second star of the game for keeping it close as long as he did, but Seattle just couldn't get anything past Oettinger, who ended up posting a second shutout in a row the following game.
Since then, Seattle has actually won three of their last five games, but against three of the four worst teams in the Western Conference. The Kraken are coming off a 3-1 loss to San Jose, where Sharks rookie goaltender stole the show stopping 49 of 50 Seattle shots. Defenseman Brian Dumolin scored the only goal for Seattle.
Dallas had a chance to end the Central Division race Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets, but were outplayed in a 3-0 shutout. With the playoffs only one week away, it is imperative for the Stars to bounce back and get back to their winning ways Saturday afternoon. The Jets play the Colorado Avalanche in a game starting an hour later Saturday, meaning no matter the result in that game, Dallas can only officially clinch the division with a win. Winnipeg and Colorado are each five points back but with three games to play, while Dallas only has one game remaining after facing the Kraken.
Here are some things to look for in Saturday's matinee:
- Dallas averages exactly one goal per game more than Seattle. The Stars are third in the league at 3.63 goals per game, while the Kraken sit fourth worst.
- The Stars are 7-2-2 in nationally televised games this season. The game against the Kraken is available on ABC and ESPN+ and the final game against the St. Louis Blues will also air nationally on TNT.
- The loss against Winnipeg snapped an eight game winning streak for Oettinger. The last loss prior to Thursday was on March 14 against New Jersey, where he was pulled after allowing four goals on 10 shots.
- Oettinger has started 11 of the last 14 games for the Stars and over the last 30 days has a .923 save percentage and a 2.03 goals against average.
- Since the beginning of March, Johnston has 13 goals and 9 assists with a +11 rating.
Projected lines:
Robertson-Hintz-Pavelski
Marchment-Duchene-Seguin
Benn-Johnston-Stankoven
Steel-Faksa-Smith
Harley-Heiskanen
Lindell-Tanev
Suter-Lundkvist
Oettinger
Wedgewood
Since it is an afternoon game, these lines are unconfirmed and no new information will be released until close to puck drop.
Head coach Pete DeBoer stated earlier this week that he would like to get defenseman Jani Hakanpaa and forward Evgenii Dadonov a regular season game under their belt before the playoffs. Hakanpaa could slot back in to the lineup at any time, but Dadonov is on LTIR and would need his salary to fit under the cap to rejoin the team before the playoffs, which would require a roster move to accommodate.
Puck drop is at 2 p.m. and can be seen nationally on ABC and ESPN+.
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