CALGARY, Alberta -- After trading wins through the first six games of the series, it all comes down to a winner-take-all Game 7 between the Stars and Calgary Flames on Sunday night at Scotiabank Saddledome.
It's been a series of will and sheer determination with both teams pulling off wins in key moments. Remember it was Dallas that took Game 2 to earn a split on the road, and then won Game 3 to go up 2-1. But with an opportunity to take a commanding lead in the series on home ice, the Stars were outplayed by a more desperate Flames team in Game 4, and the series returned to Calgary tied, 2-2.
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In a pivotal swing game that would put the losing team on the brink of elimination, it was the Flames that came out on top in Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead. Then, in a do-or-die Game 6 on Friday night at American Airlines Center, the Stars delivered their most complete game of the series to send this back to Calgary one final time.
This has also been a series of outstanding goaltending from Jake Oettinger and Jacob Markstrom - a showdown between the young buck and the hardened veteran. Through six games, Oettinger has a 1.69 goals-against average, .952 save percentage and one shutout. Markstrom boasts a 1.52 GAA, .945 SV% and one shutout.
The question is, which team will blink first in Game 7? The team that's scored first in this series has won five of the six games, with the lone exception being Game 5 when Dallas took a 1-0 lead into the third period and lost 3-1.
In Stanley Cup Playoffs history (including the three Game 7s on Saturday), the team that scores first is 141-46 (.754) in 187 all-time Game 7s (3-0 in 2022). Home teams hold the slight edge, owning a 109-78 (.583) advantage in the 187 all-time Game 7s (2-1 in 2022), while 94 of the 187 (50%) have been decided by a one-goal margin.
One-goal games are just fine for the Stars, who have played close games pretty much the entire season but especially since December. Each of Dallas' three wins in this series have essentially been one-goal games, despite the empty netters in each one.
Luke Glendening will be a game-time decision according to Stars coach Rick Bowness. Glendening suffered a lower-body injury on a hit from Flames defenseman Nikita Zadorov in the second period that kept him out for the remainder of the game. Though he cleared concussion protocol, the injury prevented him from returning to the game. However, Glendening returned to the bench to support his teammates in the third period.
The winner of this game will take on the Edmonton Oilers beginning Tuesday or Wednesday in the second round.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Kyle Shohara is the Digital Manager for DallasStars.com and writes about the Stars/NHL. Follow him on Twitter @kyleshohara.
