The Dallas Stars are primed to dominate the Seattle Kraken in a potential playoff preview that's sure to keep fans on the edge of their seats.

It's a clash of Western Conference titans as the Dallas Stars gear up to face off against the Seattle Kraken in what could very well be an opening-round playoff matchup. With both teams vying for top spots in their respective divisions, this game is going to be lit, and the Stars have the upper hand.

Dallas (38-19-13, 89 points) currently leads the Central Division, just three points behind the Pacific-leading Vegas Golden Knights for the top seed in the conference. The Kraken (38-24-7, 83 points), on the other hand, are locked in a wild-card race, only two points ahead of the Winnipeg Jets. The stakes are high, and the Stars are shining brighter than ever.

One of the key reasons we're backing Dallas in this epic showdown is their stellar goaltending. With a solid netminder in their arsenal, the Stars have the edge in this crucial game. It's no secret that a top-notch goalie can make or break a team's playoff dreams, and Dallas' netminder is definitely bringing the heat.

The Stars have shown their prowess against the Kraken recently, playing back-to-back games in Seattle on their latest six-game trip. Dallas emerged victorious in both matchups, with a 4-3 win on March 11, thanks to Miro Heiskanen's overtime winner, followed by a 5-2 triumph on March 13. With six players racking up multi-point games and their power play going 3-for-4, the Stars have already proven they can handle the Kraken's pressure.

Dallas coach Peter DeBoer commended his team's performance in those two games, stating, "It was an important four points. You look at the standings and we're in a fight for first in the division, first in the conference. They're in a battle for playoff positioning. They've been playing great all year, so this was a real test for us coming in here for two games and I thought our group really responded."

The Stars didn't slow down after their victories in Seattle, wrapping up their 4-2-0 trip with a 6-5 overtime win against the Calgary Flames, the same team that eliminated Dallas in a seven-game playoff series last season. Jason Robertson's double, including a game-winner with just 13 seconds left in OT, pushed his season goal tally to 41, making him the first player to have consecutive 40-goal seasons since the franchise moved from Minnesota to Dallas.

Robertson's success is just one example of the Stars' remarkable season, as he noted, "A lot of guys on this team are having fantastic seasons. That kind of bleeds into my game and that success translates from the team to the individuals. We're doing really well in the standings right now and we want to keep it that way. And it helps for a guy like me to achieve that milestone."

Rookie Wyatt Johnston has also made an impact, scoring his 20th goal of the season and surpassing Seattle's Matty Beniers for the NHL's rookie goal-scoring lead. Johnston's growth as a player highlights the depth and skill present in the Stars' lineup.

The Kraken, meanwhile, are struggling, going 1-3-1 in their past five games, including a 6-4 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. To make matters worse, their goalie Philipp Grubauer left the game early with a "non-COVID illness," putting his status for the upcoming match against Dallas in question. Seattle has called up Joey Daccord from its AHL affiliate in Coachella Valley as a potential replacement, but this uncertainty in net could hurt the Kraken's chances.

Furthermore, Seattle forward John Hayden suffered a lower-body injury in a fight and isn't expected to make the trip to Dallas, leaving the Kraken down another key player.

With the Stars riding high on momentum and boasting a stronger, healthier lineup, they're in prime position to take down the Kraken in this potential playoff preview. So buckle up, hockey fans, because this showdown is going to be one for the books. And when it's all said and done, expect the Dallas Stars to shine the brightest.


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