Golden Knights vs. Stars Game 7 Preview: Too Close to Call

Vegas Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy doesn’t think either team in this playoff series should be happy to find itself playing a Game 7.

The Golden Knights were up 2-0 in series, and weren’t thinking about going to Game 7.  The Dallas Stars could have eliminated Vegas in Game 6. They aren’t happy to be in a Game 7, either.

“It’s probably apropos that it is Game 7,” Cassidy said. “My guess is it will be really close.”

It’s hard to describe how tight this series has been. There’s no room on the ice, no margin for error.

This series has been tight to the point that Vegas has netted 15 goals and Dallas had netted 14. The home team has only won two of the first six games.

The Golden Knights have the advantage of being just 11 months removed from winning the Stanley Cup. They presumably remember what it takes to rise up and winning clinching games or big games.

But the Stars have coach Pete DeBoer who is 7-0 in Game 7. He has had a knack of getting his teams ready for winner-take-all contests. Dallas player  Joe Pavelski is 7-3 in Game 7s.

Of course, Vegas also has its Game 7 veterans. Vegas defensemen Alex Pietrangelo and Alec Martinez are both 5-0 in Game 7s.

Game Time

Sunday: Vegas at Dallas, Game 7, Western Conference Quarterfinal

Where: American Airlines Center

TV/RADIO: TBS (National) and Scripps Sports (Local)/98.9 FM/1340 AM and 1460 AM

Time: 4:30 PT

Vegas Preview

Given how well the team played to win Game 6, it seems likely coach Bruce Cassidy will go with the team lineup… Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore both have four  Game 7 points in their career. That ranks second among all active NHL defensemen….Jack Eichel has 33 career playoff points in 28 career playoff games. He’s the constant for Vegas in this series…

Golden Knights lineup

Tomas Hertl — Jack Eichel — Jonathan Marchessault

Ivan Barbashev– Chandler Stephenson — Mark Stone

Brett Howden  –William Karlsson– Michael Amadio

William Carrier-Nicolas Roy — Keegan Kolesar

Defense

Alec Martinez — Alex Pietrangelo

Brayden McNabb — Shea Theodore

Noah Hanifin-Zach Whitecloud

Dallas Preview

Joe Pavelski, 39, has no points in the series and doesn’t have a shot on goal in his past three games. But he has always risen up in Game 7. He boasts seven Game 7 points in his career. That ties him for second among active players. Alex Ovechkin has eight points. Brad Marchand also has seven…Radek Faksa was a game-time decision for Game 6 and didn’t play. We can presume he might be able to play Game 7…..Defenseman Miro Heiskanen has five points and he’s minus-8. He’s playing an average of 27-plus minutes per game.