Stars Avalanche Game 7: Key player, predictions points

Before the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, one series stood out from the others: Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche.

Both teams ended with more than 100 points in the regular season, seemed to be in a window in the championship and Mikko Rantannen employed once during the 2024-25 campaign.

Sure enough, the two clubs fought in their series – and six games were not enough to determine a winner.

Saturday evening (8 a.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+) will be game 7. It is the 199. Game 7 in the history of Stanley Cup Playoffs, and when you enjoy nail books, the recent history suggests that you are lucky: 11 of the 14 games 7 have been decided with one goal since 2022, including all four in 2024.

In order to prepare them fully for the game, we have collected ESPN reporters and analysts to identify the most important players that can be seen, as well as the end point for the Pivotal Clash.

Who is the only important player you will see?

Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporter: It must be Matt Düchene. After scoring 30 goals and scored 80 points in his career for the second time, he only has one point in the series.

His productivity was the key in the regular season, and the stars in game 7 were able to use a strong performance by Duchene. Remember what he did against his former team in an elimination game in the last post -season: the stars won in two overtime in Düchene's goal.

Emily Kaplan, NHL Reporter: Cale Makar. It doesn't really feel that the best defender in the world who scored 30 goals this season has no goal in this series. He sticks to a high standard and says that “I have to be much better” before the crucial game 6. Makar was and scored three points to ward off the excretion, but I still think that he will get another equipment on Saturday.

Victoria Matish, NHL analyst: Valeri Nichushkin. The stars have their hands full and tried to stop the second striker and the ex-team kamen if it is most effective. After Nichushkin has passed a few goals to drive the avalanche in game 7, it is ready to add another goal (or two) if it is most important. Like many others in the league, he tends to score in grapes. After he was not available for AVS in the last playoffs, he has an additional incentive.

Arda Öcal, NHL transmitter: Nathan Mackinnon Has six goals and ten points in this series. If there is a guy with the highest competition and a “Never Say” keeping, then it is Mackinnon. Mackinnon's six goals are only shy to connect the franchise record for most goals in a playoff series (to rantons among those who are currently connected to this record).

Kristen Shilton, NHL Reporter: This is the moment for Mikko Rantannen. Dallas went all-in when it acquired trantons that the stars signed in the long run so that he could be a difference at such a time.

Rantannen kept Dallas excellent to achieve in game 5 and ended with a goal and two templates. He had four points in the defeat of Stars 6. That is the type of performance that the stars in game 7 should expect. Rantannen won a Stanley Cup with the AVS. He knows what it takes to end a series and to get deep into the playoffs. This experience will also be invaluable for rantons, as it leads to the stars with a good example.

Greg Wyshynski, NHL reporter: He is not on the ice, but behind the bank. Dallas trainer Peter Deboer Can set up an NHL record for career game 7 if the stars defeat the avalanche. He is 8-0 in his career, connected 7 victories with several players and trainer Darryl Sutter for most of the career game. Deboer and the former Dallas striker Brad Richards are the only two people in the history of the NHL who won their first eight games 7.

On the one hand, it is probably not great that so many Deboers teams were scenarios in the series “Win or Go Home”. On the other hand, it was the opponents who went home every time.

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The end result will be _____.

Clark: 4-3 stars. Admittedly, everything can happen in a game 7, especially if a team that is as powerful as the AVS is involved. The stars have the nod because they not only gained game 7 in consecutive post-seasons, but their trainer Peter Deboer is 8: 0 in these do-or-the games. Here, too, it is the AVS and the stars – which means that any number of options could be on the table – but Dallas gets the light edge.

Kaplan: 4-3 avalanches. It will be highly oktan. The pace in this series was incredible, but it was often the avalanche that set the tone – and I expect you to fly again. What the stars did without two of their greatest stars, Miro Hiscans and Jason Robertson, show their depth. But the AVS have too much star power to avoid doing it.

Matish: 3-1 Avalanche. Nathan Mackinnon is difficult to contain in the best form if everything is at stake. Even if the stars suppress the upper unit of the AVS, this secondary forward front, including Nichushkin, Brock Nelson and Gabriel Landeskog, offers an impressive strokes. In addition, Mackenzie Blackwood, who has summarized only a few porous starts throughout the season, seems another outstanding presentation, similar to the shutout recorded in game 4.

ÖCAL: 3-1 stars. Jake Oettinger makes 43 parades. Roope Hintz opens the gate, the AVS binds it to the power play thanks to Cale Makar. At the beginning of the third, it is otherwise, except Mikko Rantannen, who scores a goal on a runaway, then Thomas Harley adds an empty networker and Dallas continues in round 2.

Shilton: 3-2 stars. It never hurts to have an advantage in a game 7 at home, especially if you have played in your own building in your own building, as it did about Dallas all season. The stars were the better team in the series – with a slim edge – and although it was supposed to be close competition, Dallas has the juice to send colorado packing.

Apart from Peter Deboer's perfect coaching record in game 7, the stars are practically experienced veterinarians when it comes to playing in them, while the avalanche has not had the same success since her cup victory. It will be a tight struggle.

Wyshynski: stars 4-2. I selected them in seven games in front of the series and I stay with it. That was a one-goal game 6 to the empty nice, although Roope Hintz and Mikko Rantannen were the entire crime of Dallas. The stars will need something made of matt düchene, Tyler Seguin and Mason Marchment in game 7. The encouraging is that you found something out of all three in the game of the stars in game 5, so you may only need a domestic food.

Factor in Jake Oettinger's 1.54 Tore-on average and 0.956 percentage in three games 7 games (2-1 record), and I like Dallas.