The Dallas Stars take on the Vegas Golden Knights in the final game of the series.
After a grueling 82 game season and six games of almost dead-even action, the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights meet for one deciding game that will determine which team's season ends, and who continues their quest for the Stanley Cup.
In the only series to go seven games in the Western Conference, Dallas and Vegas might be the 1 v. 8 matchup, but the two teams couldn't be any more evenly matched. In all six games so far, each game has been decided by one goal (the only two goal wins have been thanks to empty netters). Neither team has enjoyed more than a two goal lead, and even those have been short-lived. The total goals allowed in the series thus far have been 15 for Vegas and 14 for Dallas, and after a 4-3 Vegas win in Game 1, neither team has gotten more than three goals past a goaltender (Dallas added an empty netter in Game 4).
Now, down to the final and most important game, there is nothing obvious to separate the best team in the West this year from the defending Stanley Cup champions. Vegas dealt with injuries and inconsistency all season, but come Game 1 of the playoffs, had their full squad assembled and looking ready to come out just as strong as they looked last year on their run to the Stanley Cup. Dallas came into the series with the best depth the Stars have had in recent memory, rolling four strong lines of forwards.
After finding themselves down in the series 0-2, the Stars fought back and won three in a row to set up a potential elimination game in Vegas. They had a great chance to close out the series and move on to the next round in a tight Game 6, but with the game still scoreless into the third period, Vegas got the first goal and the Stars just couldn't find an answer.
This is the final game of the season for one of these teams, but for Stars head coach Pete DeBoer, a Game 7 elimination has never happened. DeBoer is 7-0 in his career, with one of those Game 7 wins coming against Vegas (as coach of the San Jose Sharks) and two of them happening with Vegas. DeBoer guided the Stars to a 2-1 victory in Game 7 last season against Seattle in the second round.
The Stars will make one lineup change tonight, as Radek Faksa slots in for Ty Dellandrea for the first time since suffering an injury in Game 1. Here is the full lineup for Dallas:
Robertson-Hintz-Pavelski
Benn-Johnston-Stankoven
Dadonov-Duchene-Seguin
Steel-Faksa-Smith
Harley-Heiskanen
Lindell-Tanev
Suter-Lundkvist
Oettinger
Wedgewood
Referees for tonight's game are Wes McCauley (reffed Game 3) and Dan O'Rourke (reffed Game 1).
Puck drop is at 6:30 p.m. CDT and the game can be seen nationally on TBS and also locally on Bally Sports Southwest.