“I’m sure we can benefit from that,” said the Stars’ forward. Game 7 was our most complete game since the playoffs began. This is the standard that we want to show below. We limited their chances of scoring in the transition phases, we didn’t concede a lot of turnovers and we didn’t make it easy for them in attack. That’s the recipe for success against any team. »

If that’s how the Stars feel after their 2-1 win in Game 7, then so should the Golden Knights, who just played two strong games against the Edmonton Oilers in Round 2 and won twice, 4-3 in game 5 and 5-2 in Game 6 to win the six-game series.

ALSO READ: The Stars have maintained their identities in the playoffs, says Jim Nill | An advantage that could benefit Golden Knights defenders

The Stars and Golden Knights will therefore bring confidence and momentum to Friday’s Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals at Mobile Arena. The question is who will do the same for Game 2.

“Things are getting harder and harder to reach our ultimate goal,” noted the Vegas forward. Jonathan Marchessault. It’s a challenge we’re really looking forward to and I think we can do it successfully. »

One of the main storylines surrounding this series revolves around DeBoer, who spent the last three seasons on the bench with the Golden Knights. He notably led the team to the 2020 Conference Finals against Dallas.

Vegas fired DeBoer on May 16 after the team missed the playoffs last season. He was hired by the stars on June 21. He returned to T-Mobile Arena to face the Golden Knights twice in the regular season, leading the Stars to victory each time, on January 16 and February 25.

“I’m totally invested in the Dallas Stars and our roster right now,” DeBoer said. That’s how this sport works. I think we’ve been there throughout the season, me and my assistants. This is one of the toughest venues for opposing teams in the league, we all know that, and our players are ready to deal with the dynamic swings that are inevitable when playing in this arena. »

This is the second duel between Vegas and Dallas in the playoffs.

Here are three things to look out for in Game 1:

1. Oettinger vs. Hill

The battle between the two goalkeepers appears to be in the stars’ favour Jake Oettinger, who ranked fourth in the NHL in goal average (2.37) and odds kept (0.919) during the regular season. But it’s the Cerberus of Vegas Adin Hill who scored the best stats in the second round.

Hill was thrown into the middle of the action in Game 3 against the Oilers due to the starter’s injury Laurent Brossoit. He took a 3-1 lead with a 2.19 GAA and a .934 save percent. In the 5-2 win in Game 6, he stopped 38 shots in a row.

“It was very exciting,” Hill admitted. As a kid, you dream of playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It’s been a very comfortable ride so far and I just want to make the most of it every day. »

Like the Stars, Oettinger probably played his best second-round hockey in Game 7 with 22 saves. His shutout was revoked 19 seconds before the end of regulation time. He was eliminated from Games 3 and 6, finishing the series with a 3.50 GAA and a .877 save rate.

“I know that I can reach another level,” said Oettinger. I have high expectations of myself and I know I can do better than I did against Seattle in the series. It says a lot about the talent of this team, the fact that we won even though I didn’t have my best streak. »

2. A reminder for Eichel and Pavelski

star striker Joe Pavelsky scored eight goals in seven games against the Kraken, including four in Game 1. Vegas Center Jack Acorn had nine points (three goals, six assists) in six games against the Oilers.

Video: SEA@DAL, #1: Pavelski scores a fourth goal

The Golden Knights know all too well what Pavelski is capable of going in front of the net to save shots.

The Stars understand very well how dominant Eichel was in the playoffs, playing like a power forward, controlling the puck and pushing back opposing defenses.

They can both make the difference and go into the federation final with a lot of confidence.

3. Possible Robertson eruption

Robertson hasn’t scored in his last eight games, his longest losing streak of the season. He had failed to score in seven games between December 6 and 17, a span that followed a streak of 23 goals in the first 25 games of the season.

The good news is that Robertson feels he was dangerous and had chances nonetheless. Even better news is that his linemates, Loope Hintz and Pavelski took over and the Stars won.

However, Robertson is like a sleeping giant, and when he wakes up, the Golden Knights need to be on their guard. He says the rest period between the two series has allowed him to clear his head.

“We’ve been training and I’ve been able to prepare to get back on track and score more goals,” said Robertson.

Planned formation of the stars
Jason Robertson – Roope Hintz – Joe Pavelski
Masonic March — Max Domi — Tyler Seguin
Jamie Benn — Wyatt Johnston — Evgenii Dadonov
Luke Glendening — Radek Faksa — Joel Kiviranta

Ryan Suter — Miro Heiskanen
Esa Lindell — Colin Miller
Thomas Harley — Joel Hanley

Jake Oettinger
Scott Wedgewood

Cut off: Ty Dellandrea, Nils LundkvistJani Hakanpaa, Fredrik OlofssonRiley Tufte
Pains: none

Planned formation of the Golden Knights
Ivan Barbashev – Jack Eichel – Jonathan Marchessault
Reilly Smith — William Karlson — Nicholas Roy
Brett Howden — Chandler Stephenson — Mark Stone
William Carrier — Teddy Blueger — Keegan Kolesar

Alec Martinez — Alex Pietrangelo
Brayden McNabb — Shea Theodore
Nicholas Hague — Zach Whitecloud

Adin Hill
Jonathan Quick

Cut off: Ben Hutton, Paul CotterKaeden Korczak, Brayden Pachal, Michael Amadio, Phil Kessel
Wounded: Laurent Brossoit (lower body), Logan Thompson (unknown)

In the notebook

Hakanpaa is struggling with “a little something,” DeBoer said, but he’s in the Stars and will be available to play if needed. Hakanpaa missed Game 4 and Game 7 against Kraken. Miller replaced him in Game 7.