Matchups, preview, how to watch Kraken-Stars on ESPN - ESPN

Heading into the 2022-23 NHL season, many believed that the Seattle Kraken would be better in Year 2 than they'd been in Year 1. Few predicted they'd make the postseason. Fewer still predicted they would be on the precipice of the Western Conference finals.

To reach that level, they'll need to win the next two games, and the Dallas Stars have their own plans in mind — namely, making the conference final round themselves. With a win in Seattle on Saturday night (7 ET, ESPN), the Stars will do just that.

Before the two teams take the ice at Climate Pledge Arena, let's get you prepped. We've put together a guide on what to watch from each team, including keys to victory from Ryan S. Clark and in-depth statistical insights from ESPN Stats & Information.

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7 p.m. ET | Watch live on ESPN+Line: DAL -155 | O/U: 6

Goaltending was already the looming issue facing the Kraken, and what happened in their past two games has reignited those concerns, with Philipp Grubauer allowing nine goals in his past two starts.

It's a contrast from how Grubauer performed in the first round, in which he was one of primary reasons the Kraken upset the reigning Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche in seven games. He finished that series with a 2.31 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage.

Fast-forward to what's happened against the Stars. Grubauer has had only one game in which he has allowed fewer than two goals. For the series, Grubauer has a 4.21 GAA and a .858 SV% in five games. His teammates must play better, too.

«You give them odd-man rushes, you give them looks like that — they're a good team, they've got a lot of offensive players, and they're going to score,» Kraken forward Jordan Eberle