While the Seattle Kraken have only been in the NHL for a few seasons, last year’s playoff run established a new rival for them: the Dallas Stars. The playoffs matchup between the Kraken and Stars produced some of the most exciting games that the NHL saw all season. In the tightly-contested, evenly-matched series, stars were made on both teams, fans were treated to thrill and agony alike, and bad blood was brewed between these opposing sides — which sets these squads up perfectly for exciting matchups during the 2023-24 NHL season.
In this article, we’ll discuss the Head to Head history of the Seattle Kraken and the Dallas Stars, analyze the background to their budding rivalry, recount their legendary 2023 Playoff series, and forecast how future matchups between these two teams will go.
Kraken vs Stars Head to Head History
The Seattle Kraken and the Dallas Stars have played each other in the NHL a combined 13 times (with 7 of those coming in the 2023 NHL Playoffs). Of those 13, the Stars have won 8 of the matchups, while the Kraken have won 5. The first matchup between these two teams came on January 13, 2022, when the Stars beat the Kraken 5-2. The most recent matchup between these teams came on May 16, 2023, when the Stars beat the Kraken 2-1.
There have been 92 total goals scored in the 13 matchups between the Kraken and the Stars; 48 for the Stars, 44 for the Kraken. The Kraken hold the longest winning streak in their head to head history, having beat the Stars four straight times at one point.
The Kraken and Stars will face off 3 times in the 2023-24 regular season: on December 18 (in Dallas), on March 30 (in Seattle), and on April 13 (in Dallas).
Kraken vs Stars Rivalry
Considering that the Seattle Kraken only joined the NHL in 2021, as an expansion team, they don’t have much of a team history; especially not against specific teams, such as the Stars.
The Dallas Stars, however, do have a rich history. They have been to the Stanley Cup finals five times (in 1981, 1991, 1999, 2000, and 2020) and have won the Stanley Cup once, in 2020. The team began playing in Minnesota in 1967, and were called the North Stars. They relocated to Dallas prior to the 1993-94 NHL season.
Kraken vs Stars 2023 NHL Playoffs Matchup
While the Seattle Kraken and Dallas Stars didn’t a have notable head to head history prior to the 2023 season, they certainly do now. After the Stars finished the 2022-23 regular season with a 47-21-14 record (108 points), they finished 2nd in the Central Division, and won their first round matchup of the 2023 NHL Playoffs against the Minnesota Wild.
The Seattle Kraken finished the 2022-23 regular season with a 46-28-8 record (100 points), and secured a Wild Card spot in the 2023 NHL playoffs. After the Kraken shocked everybody and upset the Colorado Avalanche in the first round, they were matched up against the Dallas Stars in the second round of the playoffs.
Game 1 of the Kraken and Stars 2023 playoff series took place on May 2, 2023, in Dallas. While the Kraken scored 4 goals in the first period, the Stars also had 2 goals in the period, making a 4-2 score at the first intermission. This is how the score remained until the third period, when the Kraken lost their two-goal lead and the Stars tied the match at 4, which took the game into overtime. Then Kraken player Yanni Gourde scored late in overtime, giving the Kraken a thrilling 5-4 overtime victory to win Game 1 on the road.
Game 2 also took place in Dallas, and this time, the Stars responded. They scored three goals in the second period, added one more in the fourth, and an excellent performance from Stars goalkeeper Jake Oettinger allowed the Stars to win Game 2 by a score of 4-2 and even the series at one game each.
Game 3 was in Seattle — and the Kraken dominated from start to finish. After an incredible five-goal second period, the Kraken added two more goals in the third period to blowout the stars in Game 3, by a final score of 7-2.
But the Stars weren’t going to roll over. They responded in Game 4 by scoring 6 goals, (two of which were by Mac Domi), and the Kraken could only respond with 3 goals of their own. Therefore, the Stars won Game 4 by a score of 6-3.
The series — which was 2-2 heading into Game 5 — then returned to Dallas. After the Stars jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first period, the Kraken responded with two goals of their own in period two. Yet, the Stars proved too tough to overcome at home, and two third period goals (one by Roope Hintz, one by Radek Faksa) cemented a 5-2 win for the Stars.
Game 6 returned to Seattle, and the Kraken had to win in order to keep their season alive. Luckily for them, their offense showed up in a big way (led by two goals from Jordan Eberle), and the Kraken scored two goals in every period compared to the Stars’ one goal per period, causing the Kraken to win 6-3 and force a winner-take-all Game 7.
As if this series couldn’t get any more exciting, Game 7 was the most tightly contested and thrilling of all the games. After a scoreless first period, the Stars broke through in the second period with a goal from Roope Hintz to head into the third and final period with a 1-0 lead. Dallas then scored again in the third, extending their lead to 2-0 and causing desperation for the Kraken. Although the Kraken scored a goal at the end of the game, the Stars’ two goal lead proved insurmountable, as the Stars won 2-1 and took the series, 4 games to 3.
Kraken vs Stars 2023-24 Matchup Analysis
Although the Dallas Stars ended up losing to the Las Vegas Golden Knights in the next round, their season can certainly be considered a success. And the same goes for the Kraken, who nobody expected to be one game away from the Conference Final. For this reason, each team’s expectations are high for 2023-24; not to mention that the three matchups these teams will have during the regular season should prove to be as exciting as last year’ playoffs. Whether these two teams can replicate their 2022-23 success remains to be seen. But what’s for sure is that, when the Stars and Kraken play in 2023-24, fans should be tuning in.
Throughout his career, James has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, including major sports networks and media outlets. He has written for television shows, news programs, and online platforms, and has a talent for crafting engaging stories that resonate with viewers.
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