Check out our Stars vs. Kraken predictions from our crew of hockey experts for tonight's big Game 7 elimination matchup, with a trip to the Western Conference Finals on the line.
Below, check out our hockey crew's top NHL picks, including a total and a pair of player props, for Stars vs Kraken.
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First-Period Total
Jonny Lazarus: The Seattle Kraken and Dallas Stars have had a phenomenal, back-and-forth series that will, unfortunately, end as these teams are getting set to play in a winner-take-all Game 7.
The Kraken have already won a Game 7 on the road while the Stars will be playing in their first of the postseason. Typically, what decides a Game 7 is the team that makes more mistakes. And in the first period, in games like this, both teams don't necessarily take any risks.
In the Kraken's last Game 7, with the Colorado Avalanche, neither team was able to find the back of the net in the opening 20 minutes of the game. I am getting a similar vibe for this battle.
The pressure is on for Phillipp Grubauer and Jake Oettinger, who will be minding the goals for their respective teams. The Kraken's Grubauer has been a pleasant surprise in these playoffs, skating to a .901 save percentage along with a 3.05 goals against average while boasting a +1.2 goals saved above expected.
For the Stars, Oettinger will be playing in his second-ever Game 7, and if it goes anything like the first one, the Stars will be in good shape. Last year the Stars were in Calgary for a Game 7, where Oettinger made 64 saves with a 1.81 goals against average and a .954 save percentage. Unfortunately, the team lost 3-2 in overtime, but Oettinger was outstanding.
This postseason, the Seattle Kraken are averaging only 0.91 goals against in first periods while the Stars are allowing 0.72 in that same span. The first period of a Game 7 is typically a feeling-out process, and that is what I am expecting in this game.
Both goalies have been the backbones of their team in the first two rounds, and I expect them to show up in a game like this where their team needs them most. I expect a low-scoring game, which will all start in the opening frame.
I love the under in the first period, which comes at even money.
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Roope Hintz Prop
Nicholas Martin: Roope Hintz has been the driving force behind Dallas' offensive production this postseason with 18 points in 12 games. He has been a dynamic offensive force creating both off of the rush and down-low off of cycle in the offensive zone.
He has put up 21 shots in six games against Seattle in a series that has featured an abnormal amount of blowouts. Hintz has played onlu 20 minutes of time on ice a single time in this series.
Tonight will likely be a close and hard-fought affair. We can count on Hintz, Joe Pavelski and Jason Robertson playing well past their series average of time on ice in the majority of game scripts.
Whether the Stars are able to come away with the victory in this huge spot or not, I'll bet Hintz' play stands out.
The "over 2.5" holds strong value – even at -140.
Pick: Roope Hintz over 2.5 shots on goal (-140) |
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Oliver Bjorkstrand Prop
Greg Liodice: Toward the end of Round 1, Oliver Bjorkstrand was the star that the Seattle Kraken needed. He was flying all over the ice, and every time the puck was on his stick, it seemed like it was going in the net.
This series against the Stars, Bjorkstrand hasn’t had the same fervor, but he's still generating opportunities. In Games 2 and 4, he recorded no shots on goal, but that was it. It seems as if whenever the Dane gets the puck on net, it’s in abundance. Aside from the two games with no shots, he hasn’t gone below the three-shot mark.
In addition, he’s second in expected goals, fifth in scoring chances, and sixth in high-danger chances. His PDO is very down compared to the Avalanche series, so his luck seemed to run out. Still, that doesn’t mean his opportunities won’t come.
While Game 7s are usually tight-checking, Bjorkstrand has shown he can be an outlier. The Stars are among the best defensive teams in the league, and they are far away the best in the playoffs with a 2.05 xGA/60.
If Bjorkstrand can slip through the cracks three or more times back then, he can do it tonight too. I think three or more shots at -102 is a solid value.
Pick: Oliver Bjorkstrand Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (-102) |
