Dallas Stars advance to Western Conference Final with pulsating Game 7 victory over Seattle Kraken

The Dallas Stars advanced to the NHL Western Conference Final with an exciting Game 7 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Monday.

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Roope Hintz and Wyatt Johnston each grabbed goals for Dallas in a 2-1 victory at American Airlines Center which sealed a 4-3 series victory for the Stars.

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It is Dallas’ first trip to the conference final since 2020 where it will face the Vegas Golden Knights for an opportunity to lift the Stanley Cup – the Stars last won the famous trophy in 1999.

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“It was our best team game of the playoffs,” Stars coach Peter DeBoer – who improved his undefeated record in Game 7’s to 7-0 – told reporters afterwards.

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“I knew our group would respond (from the loss in Game 6). They have all year individually and collectively as a team, and they didn’t disappoint.”

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DeBoer became the first coach in NHL history to lead four different teams to the conference final/semifinal round of the postseason in his first season as coach.

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The attacking contributions from Hintz and Johnston have been pivotal for Dallas’ playoff run and that was the same again on Monday night.

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Hintz scored his ninth goal of the postseason to open the scoring after dispossessing Kraken defenseman Jamie Oleksiak in the second period.

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And Johnston, who celebrated his 20th birthday on Sunday, doubled the home team’s lead midway through the third period.

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