3/29/2025
(Seattle, WA)
The Dallas Stars pulled away from the Seattle Kraken for a 5-1 win, clinching a playoff spot for the fourth straight season. Jake Oettinger was steady for the Stars making 35 saves in the win. While Eeli Tolvanen recorded the lone Kraken goal in the loss.
The Dallas Stars in their last game, defeated the Calgary Flames 5-2 thanks to a 46 save effort from Casey DeSmith. Seattle that same night trounced the Edmonton Oilers 6-1. Dallas came in with a chance to clinch a postseason berth with a win and a loss from the Calgary Flames. The Kraken were eliminated earlier in the day when the St. Louis Blues beat the Colorado Avalanche 2-1. Dallas started Jake Oettinger with a 7-2-1 record in his last 10 starts. Joey Daccord once again was between the pipes for the Kraken.
Seattle began where they left off against the Oilers. In the early moments, Jared McCann on a drive to the net ladled the puck on Oettinger before Eeli Tolvanen tipped in the settled disc to put the Kraken on the board at 1:27 of the opening period. Jason Robertson subdued Seattle’s early momentum by stashing a rebound past Joey Daccord to tie the game with 11:50 played in the opening period. The Stars vacuumed any Seattle energy in the first period with a goal from Roope Hintz on the power play late at 18:24. After 20 minutes, Seattle held the edge in shots on goal 12-9, but Dallas led where it counts 2-1.
Scoring was hard to come by in the second period, with no goals in it. Seattle held the multitude of the shots edging Dallas 12-5 in the frame. Dallas had near back to back power plays near the end of the period, but Seattle successfully killed both Stars man advantages. Seattle had out chanced Dallas 13-9 in the second. It would be important for Seattle to play their scrappy style in the final period if they hoped to come away with a win.
Dallas quickly went on the power play after a high sticking call on Brandon Montour. Mason Marchment tallied a power play goal shortly afterward at 28 seconds of the third. The Stars led 3-1. Seattle pushed, but faced a stout playoff ready Dallas team that offered very little favors. Wyatt Johnston beat Joey Daccord on the backhand side to add extra insurance for the Stars at 12:56 and reality began to set in.
Mikko Rantanen salted away the game with an empty netter with 16:26 in the final frame.
Jake Oettinger was stellar for the Stars, stopping 35 of 36 Kraken shots in the victory. Joey Daccord was dished the loss with 16 saves on 20 Kraken shots.
The Stars won 5-1 to clinch Dallas a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fourth straight season, thanks to a Calgary overtime loss to Edmonton. On the opposite end, the Kraken were eliminated from postseason contention for the second straight year.
Head Coach Dan Bylsma when asked about being eliminated remarked the mentality remains the same. Bylsma went on to explain the focus after the trade deadline has been the same mentality every night, of bringing the most competitive brand of hockey possible.
Up Next:
The Stars and Kraken meet again on Monday at 7pm, before the Kraken head on the road to face Vancouver on Wednesday night.
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