SEATTLE — The Seattle Kraken, in their first NHL postseason, are already playing their second Game 7 on the road Monday night, this time against Dallas.
The Kraken beat last season’s Stanley Cup champions with a Game 7 win at Colorado, when Oliver Bjorkstrand scored both goals and Yanni Gourde assisted on both, to eliminate the Avalanche.
“I’m sure there’s some things that we can apply, but this is a different series,” Seattle coach Dave Hakstol said. “Not only are we playing an opponent that has great players, high-end guys at the top of their lineup, but their depth is good. ... A little bit different look going into Game 7.”
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Some Kraken fans will again be watching the game, which starts at 5:10 p.m., at a watch party at Climate Pledge Arena.
“I think pressure is going to be on both teams,” said Kraken forward Jordan Eberle, who had two goals in their 6-3 win Saturday night. “I think for us, we’ve obviously been through this as a group once.”
If the Kraken win, they will advance to the Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights, who knocked out the Oilers 5-2 at Edmonton Sunday night.
Vegas will have home ice in the final against either Dallas or Seattle.
If the Kraken lose Game 7, their postseason run is over.
The NHL’s lone playoff game Monday between the Stars and Kraken will be only the fourth Game 7 in the league this postseason. There were five Game 7s in the first round last year, then no more in those playoffs.
The final matchup is already set for the Eastern Conference, with the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers wrapping up their second round in five games.
Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer, who stopped 20 shots on Saturday, fended off a barrage of shots in Game 7 against the Avalanche with 34 saves.
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