Flames coach Darryl Sutter brings Game 7 savvy to series finale against Stars

Most Calgary Flames players lack Game 7 experience in the NHL playoffs, but their coach doesn't.

Darryl Sutter owns the best all-time record among NHL head coaches at 7-3 in best-of-seven series' that reach a Game 7 finale.

His 11th Game 7 will come Sunday when the Flames and Dallas Stars close out their conference quarter-final at the Saddledome.

The 63-year-old from Viking, Alta., will move to the top of the list ahead of Claude Julien, Mike Keenan and Mike Babcock, who all have 10.

The Flames haven't played a Game 7 in a series since 2008. Ten players in Calgary's current lineup have never won a playoff series, while all but four Stars have done so.

The Flames beat the Vancouver Canucks in overtime in the opening round to advance, but lost to the Lightning in a Cup final that went the distance.

"I've been through a lot of them," Sutter acknowledged Saturday. "I've been through them here. The last time this team went the finals, we lost a Game 7, but to get to that Game 7, you had to win in a Game 7."

Sutter returned to the Flames just over a year ago. He navigated the Flames (50-21-11) to the top of the Pacific Division in his first full season back behind Calgary's bench.

So there's considerable weight on the Flames to close out the series with a win at home Sunday and get past the first round for just the second time since that 2004 Cup final.

"Pressure is a good thing," Sutter said. "In the long run, that's what separates you and I've been through several of those game sevens. That's, in the end, what separates you from where you stand in the league too as a player.

"For guys that haven't been in game sevens, it's time to step up too. There's guys in this series that haven't been as productive as they'd like. It's