In Seattle, the Kraken, with their backs to the fish tank glass, came out strong in Game 6 on Saturday night and doubled up the Dallas Stars, 6-3.
The win forces a Game 7 back in Dallas on Monday.
Yanni Gourde opened the scoring in the first period to stake the Kraken to a 1-0 lead.
“It’s a Game 7, who knows what’s going to happen?” Gourde said. “But we’re giving ourselves a chance and we’re excited about the challenge. We’ve got to think about the first few shifts and don’t look too far ahead. … So, you’ve just got to focus on the moment, be present and do the right things over and over, and eventually good things will happen.”
Dallas responded quickly, with a tying goal from Mason Marchment just 31 seconds later.
“Those are killers,” Eberle said. “I thought we did a good job after though, weathering the storm, but timely goals against after you score when they get the momentum back, those are killers. You see the big shifts in the game where there’s momentum, and you have to either get it back or you’ve got to keep it, so we’ve got to understand those situations.”
Eberle reclaimed the lead for Seattle off the power play at 16:46 to send the game to the middle frame with the Kraken ahead, 2-1.
“We knew they were going to come out fast,” Dallas coach Peter DeBoer said. “Just didn’t help ourselves, turned pucks over. When the other team’s hungry like that in an elimination game and you’re on the road, you’ve got to at least be the smarter team with the puck. I thought we compounded our mistakes and fed their energy in the first period. Having said that, tough time of year to beat any team three games in a row.”
Philipp Grubauer made 20 saves in the Seattle win.
In the middle frame, the Kraken posted two goals to take a 4-1 advantage in the game.
Eeli Tolvanen scored 94 seconds into the frame for a 3-1 lead to the Kraken, and Tye Kartye hit for a marker at 4:23 for a 4-1 lead.
“I loved the way our team handled today,” Seattle coach Dave Hakstol said. “We knew what was on the line. Those guys, as a staff, we didn’t have to say a whole lot. We went through some specific preparation but very simple preparation. We just felt like right from the get-go this morning, our guys had a good focus. They were relaxed overall, and that formula has led to pretty intense starts for us and it did tonight.”
Joe Pavelski scored off the power play a little over a minute later to trim the deficit to 4-2 headed to the third stanza.
Seattle padded the lead to 5-2 with a strike by Matty Beniers at 8:43 of the third.
“We were ready tonight,” Tolvanen said. “I felt like last couple of games they’ve been maybe that ready team from the start. I think that was the big key today. I think all four lines were ready to play and we showed up.”
Dallas replied off the face off after the goal with a marker from Joel Kiviranta 13 seconds later for a 5-3 count to Seattle.
“I mean, that’s what you work for all year, to try and get as high as you can in the standings for situations like this (with home ice),” Stars captain Jamie Benn said. “I’m sure it’s going to be crazy there.”
Eberle hit an empty net for his double with 58 seconds left on the game clock.
Jake Oettinger got the start for Dallas; he made 14 saves, surrendering four goals before getting the hook after the Kraken had taken the 4-1 lead.
“I think that kind of game just can’t happen at this time of the year,” said Stars defenseman Esa Lindell. “Just so disappointed at myself too. Only thing now is to move on, get ready for Game 7, and be way, way better in that one.”
Scott Wedgewood made nine saves in a mop up role.
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