The Kraken got their first taste of NHL playoff action, and the second-year franchise decided it wasn't done yet.
Seattle secured the organization's first playoff series win in style, knocking off Colorado in the first round of the 2023 NHL playoffs. The win sets up a matchup against the Stars in the second round, who defeated the Wild in their series.
Despite losing top goal scorer Jared McCann in the middle of the series, the Kraken rallied together and got production from up and down the lineup like they did all season long to knock off the defending Stanley Cup champions. Seattle went the full seven games with Colorado before knocking off the team at home.
Dallas punched its ticket to the second round with a series win over Minnesota. The Stars took out the Wild in six games, with Roope Hintz leading the way on offense.
Goalie Jake Oettinger proved that his showing in the 2022 playoffs was no fluke. The Stars goaltender has thrived once again in the postseason, highlighted by his 27-save shutout in Game 5.
The winner of this series faces off against the victor of the Oilers-Golden Knights matchup in the Western Conference Final.
NHL PLAYOFFS: Full bracket | Predictions
Here's what you need to know about the series between Dallas and Seattle:
Key storyline: Can the Kraken solve Jake Oettinger?
Playoff Oettinger is real and he is here. He showed his ability to perform at an elite level last year in the Stars' first-round loss to the Flames, and he's been at it again in 2023.
Oettinger allowed just 13 goals on 183 shots in the six games against the Wild. He was one of just two goaltenders to post a shutout in the first round. His 2.01 GAA is only trailing the Devils' Akira Schmid and the Rangers' Igor Shesterkin for the best mark in the playoffs, and his .929 SV% is tied for third among goalies who've played more than one game.
Bottom line: he is tough to beat. And it's not clear if the Kraken have the tools to break through.
Seattle hasn't produced as much offense in the postseason as it did in the regular season. Going against a hot goaltender like Oettinger was already a tall ask, but the absence of McCann makes that task even more difficult.
It's unlikely Philipp Grubauer is going to out-duel Oettinger in a seven-game series. The Kraken are going to have to find a way to solve the Oettinger puzzle.
Stars vs. Kraken playoff schedule, TV channels
| Date | Site | Time (ET) | TV/Result |
| Tues., May 2 | at Dallas | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| Thurs., May 4 | at Dallas | 9:30 p.m. | TNT, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| Sun., May 7 | at Seattle | 9:30 p.m. | TBS, SN TVAS |
| Tues., May 9 | at Seattle | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN, SN, TVAS |
| *Thurs., May 11 | at Dallas | TBD | TNT, SN, TVAS |
| *Sat., May 13 | at Seattle | TBD | ESPN, SN, TVAS |
| *Mon., May 15 | at Dallas | TBD | ESPN, SN, TVAS |
* If necessary
Stars vs. Kraken odds
Entering the second-round matchup, the Stars are the favorite to defeat the Kraken and advance to the Western Conference Final.
Stars: -222
Kraken: +165
Odds provided by Sports Interaction
Stars vs. Kraken prediction
The Kraken gave the Avalanche a lot more trouble than people expected. If they didn't have people's respect before — they certainly do now.
They were also playing against a shorthanded Avalanche team that was without two of its top wingers and did not have nearly enough depth at forward to make up for their absences.
The Kraken are getting the opposite of that in the Stars, who finally have gotten the scoring needed up and down the lineup, especially with Tyler Seguin's breakout postseason.
Even if McCann can somehow return to play in the series, it's not going to be enough to keep up with the Stars' offense. The Kraken will be back, but knocking off the defending Stanley Cup champs will be the highlight of their postseason.
Prediction: Stars in six.
