Stars end Kraken's run in Game 7, set up series vs. Knights - ESPN

DALLAS — The Dallas Stars eliminated the Seattle Kraken with a 2-1 win in Game 7 on Monday, thanks to a strong defensive effort in front of goalie Jake Oettinger.

Forwards Roope Hintz and Wyatt Johnston had the goals for the Stars, who face the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final beginning Friday night in Las Vegas.

Dallas and Vegas previously met in the 2020 conference final, when the Stars eliminated the Golden Knights in five games. Current Dallas head coach Peter DeBoer was the coach for the Golden Knights in that series. He was fired in 2022 after three seasons and took over the Dallas bench last summer.

With the win over Seattle, DeBoer moved to 7-0 all-time in Game 7. He became just the third coach in NHL history to win a Game 7 with four different franchises — New Jersey, San Jose, Vegas and Dallas.

After six games that saw a total of 49 goals scored between the teams, Game 7 was an intense goalie duel at American Airlines Center.

Oettinger (21 saves) improved to 24-2-3 this season in games after a loss. Oettinger was pulled in the Stars' Game 6 loss at Seattle that pushed the series to seven games.

«He has an elite mindset,» said DeBoer before Game 7. «He doesn't let last game bleed into the next game.»

Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer was also outstanding, making 26 saves that included several high-danger chances from the Stars.

Hintz put the Stars up late in the second period. Defenseman Esa Lindell lobbed the puck from the Dallas defensive zone to the Seattle blue line, where Kraken defender Jamie Oleksiak tried to play it. But Hintz flew in and swiped the puck away, skating in unabated and snapping the puck over goalie Grubauer for the 1-0 lead that the Stars carried into the intermission. It