2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs Games Preview

By NHL Public Relations

May 15, 2023

It will be either the Kraken or Stars who will extend their season with a Game 7 win and punch their ticket to the 2023 Western Conference Final. Seattle will be contesting a winner-take-all showdown for the second straight series, while Dallas will look to change the result of its last seventh-and-deciding game – which was exactly a year ago today.

* The Kraken are the sixth franchise in NHL history to require a Game 7 in each of their first two playoff series and the first since the Wild captured both during their run to the Western Conference Final in 2003. Seattle can also become the sixth franchise all-time to win each of its first two Game 7s at any point and would jointhe Wild (3), Blues (3), Lightning (3), Bruins (2) and Nordiques (2). Minnesota and Colorado are the only teams to claim their first two or more Game 7 wins on the road.

* Jaden Schwartz (5-0), who sits second on the Kraken in goals through the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, can become the 17th player in NHL history to win each of his first six-plus career Game 7s. The only active players to have done so are Anton Stralman (7-0 from 2012 to 2015), Ryan McDonagh (6-0 from 2012 to 2015), Carl Hagelin (6-0 from 2012 to 2015), Derek Stepan (6-0 from 2012 to 2015) and Eric Staal (6-0, active streak).

* Monday marks the one-year anniversary of the Stars’ most recent Game 7 and the standout performance of goaltender Jake Oettinger, who made 64 saves in their 3-2 overtime loss at Calgary.

Oettinger became the second goaltender to record 60-plus saves in a Game 7, following Kelly Hrudey (73 saves in the ‘Easter Epic’ 1987 DSF w/ NYI). Oettinger will have the opportunity to help his club win its first seventh-and-deciding contest at home in nearly 23 years – Dallas claimed a 3-2 win against Colorado in Game 7 of the Conference Finals on May 27, 2000 at Reunion Arena.

* Peter DeBoer is 6-0 in Game 7s, collecting wins with three franchises (NJD, SJS & VGK). Two coaches have posted wins with four: Darryl Sutter (CHI, SJS, CGY & LAK) and Scotty Bowman (STL, MTL, PIT & DET). Tommy Ivan (4-0 with DET from 1949 to 1954) and Paul Maurice (4-0 with CAR, WPG & FLA from 2009 to 2023) are the only other head coaches in NHL history to win at least their first four career Game 7s.

* Download this PDF for career individual Game 7 statistics for the Stars and Kraken

Source: NHL Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – May 15, 2023

By NHL Public Relations

May 14, 2023

The Golden Knights aim to become the third team to advance to the Conference Finals when they visit the Oilers at Rogers Place.

The Oilers aim to stave off elimination and force the Round 2 series to a Game 7.

Vegas, which is looking to advance to the 3rd Round for the fourth time in its six seasons, is 8-8 all-time in potential series-clinching games, while Edmonton is 18-19 when facing elimination.

Notes

* William Karlsson (3-8—11 in 16 GP) owns the most points by a Golden Knights player in potential series-clinching games, followed by Reilly Smith (1-9—10 in 16 GP) and Shea Theodore (3-7—10 in 15 GP). Smith leads the franchise in assists in such contests and has collected a helper in each game Vegas has won toadvance to the round before the Stanley Cup Final (Game 6 of 2021 R2, Game 7 of 2020 R2 & Game 6 of 2018 R2).

* Jack Eichel factored on three of Vegas’ four goals in Game 5 to help the club take a 3-2 series lead, marking his third three-point performance of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Should he do so again Sunday, Eichel would become the third player to record three points with the Golden Knights in a potential series-clinching game – he would join Mark Stone (1-2—3 in Game 5 of 2023 R1) and Mattias Janmark(3-0—3 in Game 7 of 2021 R1).

* Jack Eichel (3-5—8 in 5 GP) leads all Golden Knights skaters in points in the Second Round and has recorded multiple points in three out of five games played this series. Eichel (8) is one multi-point game away from reaching 10 points in a single series, a feat achieved by only two Vegas players: Mark Stone (12 in 2019 R1) and Max Pacioretty (11 in 2019 R1).

* Leon Draisaitl (3-10—13 in 7 GP) and Connor McDavid (4-7—11 in 7 GP) rank fifth and sixth, respectively, in Oilers history for points in potential elimination games, trailing only Jari Kurri (8-11—19 in 13 GP), Glenn Anderson (9-7—16 in 15 GP), Mark Messier (9-7—16 in 16 GP) and Wayne Gretzky (3-11—14 in 10 GP). Five of Draisaitl’s 13 points came in Game 6 of the 2017 Second Round (3-2—5) – the most in a potential elimination game in franchise history.

* Leon Draisaitl (1.86 P/GP) and Connor McDavid (1.57 P/GP) rank first and third all-time, respectively, in points per game when facing elimination (min. 5 GP). Ken Linseman ranks second with 1.58 P/GP in such contests.

Edmonton
Game 6 record in best-of-seven: 15-8 (.652) overall, 8-6 (.571) at home
Trailing 3-2 in a best-of-seven: 3-6 (.333) overall, 1-5 (.167) when starting on the road
Tied 3-3 in a best-of-seven: 7-4 (.636) overall, 3-3 (.500) when starting on the road

Vegas
Game 6 record in best-of-seven: 2-4 (.333) overall, 1-3 (.250) on the road
Leading 3-2 in a best-of-seven: 4-1 (.800) overall, 3-0 (1.000) when starting at home
Tied 3-3 in a best-of-seven: 2-1 (.667) overall, 2-0 (1.000) when starting at home

Source: media.nhl.com