Kraken vs. Stars Monday Western Conference semifinals Game 7 odds: Dallas' Peter DeBoer is most successful Game 7 coach in playoff history

In just their second year of existence, the Seattle Kraken have had a hugely successful season, even if it ends in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals in the Dallas on Monday night. Peter DeBoer is the head coach of the Stars, his Game 7 history says the Kraken will be going home. Dallas is a -210 favorite at Caesars Sportsbook, which is a pretty high price for a Game 7 this deep into the playoffs.

In Round 1 in the first Game 7 in franchise history, Seattle upset the defending Stanley Cup champion Avalanche 2-1 in Denver, the hardest place to play in the NHL for a visiting team. Thus, the young Kraken already have taken a huge step forward. They are the sixth franchise in NHL history to require a Game 7 in each of their first two or more playoff series and will be just the fourth to have each of those contests occur on the road.

Seattle's Jaden Schwartz and Vince Dunn are a combined 8-0 in Game 7s, including in 2019 when both were with the St. Louis Blues and they beat Dallas 2-1 in double overtime in the conference finals en route to winning the Cup. Schwartz can become the 17th player in NHL history to win his first six Game 7s.

Dallas tries for its first Game 7 win on home ice since beating the Avalanche in the 2000 Western Conference Finals. The Stars had a Game 7 in the 2022 playoffs and lost 3-2 in overtime in Calgary. Monday marks the one-year anniversary of that game. Jake Oettinger made 64 saves in the loss, just the second goaltender ever with at least 60 saves in a Game 7. He'll start tonight.

The contract of former Stars coach Rick Bowness expired following that loss and Dallas hired DeBoer to replace him. He is an astonishing 6-0 in Game 7s in his coaching career, earning wins with New Jersey, San Jose and Vegas – none of which came on the road (five at home and one in the 2020 bubble). No other coach in league history won more than his first four Game 7s, and DeBoer is the fourth coach in league annals with six Game 7 wins at any point in his career, behind Darryl Sutter (8-3), Scotty Bowman (6-3) and Pat Burns (6-3).

This will be the 10th career Game 7 for Stars forward Joe Pavelski, the 10th active player to reach that number. His eight goals in this series are a franchise record and he's +175 to score No. 9 tonight. Pavelski, Martin St. Louis (NY Rangers, 2014) and Johnny Bucyk (Boston, 1974) are the only players to score eight goals in a postseason at age 38 or older.

The team that scores first is 146-47 all-time in Game 7s and 3-0 in these playoffs. Home teams lead 112-81 but are 1-2 this year. The winner tonight will visit Vegas in the Western Conference Finals. 

Get more out of your SportsLine subscription! 

• Picks: NFL | NBA | CFB | CBB
• DFS: Lineup Optimizer | Picks
• Early Edge: YouTube | Apple Podcasts
• Newsletters: SportsLine Daily | Fantasy

Qualifying SportsLine members receive a 30-day free trial of Paramount+ premium. Sync your account right here.