Dallas Stars: Series Against St. Louis Blues Deserves A Game 7

It all comes down to Tuesday night. After trading punches in the first six games, the Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues will finally settle their second round series tomorrow. And after observing the series for the past 12 days, it’s clear that this one needs and deserves a Game 7.

Game 6 between the Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues taught on Sunday afternoon taught us a handful of things.

For one, it taught us that the Blues weren’t ready to fall into the offseason just yet. They jumped out of the gate at the American Airlines Center and set the pace for most of the game on their way to a big 4-1 win.

On another hand, it taught us that the Stars weren’t ready to clinch just yet. After winning two games in a row (including Game 5 in St. Louis), Dallas had a chance to wrap up the series on home ice and move on to the Western Conference Final. But they couldn’t muster up the necessary effort and fell short.

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It also reminded us that sometimes referees make mistakes (in regards to both sides), certain rules in the rulebook can be incredibly controversial (especially at a big moment in the Stanley Cup Playoffs), and home ice advantage means nothing when the visiting team’s season is on the line.

All of that combined together for a big win for the St. Louis Blues and a costly loss for the Dallas Stars in Game 6. And so, both teams will dig in and prepare for a deciding Game 7.

That can be an incredibly daunting challenge when teams approach it. That’s because Game 7 is the ultimate challenge in sports. The winning team gets a one-way ticket to the next round while the losing club heads home for the offseason. There’s no alternative path.

And that’s what makes it so intriguing. Unlike in other elimination scenarios, this one comes with no other route. One team survives while the other one falls out entirely.

But for the Stars and Blues, it’s almost as if a Game 7 needed to happen.

This is a series that is the very definition of back-and-forth action with a lot on the line.

The teams traded wins in the first three games, followed it up with Dallas taking Games 4 and 5, and ended with St. Louis pushing back in Game 6 to tie the series at 3-3.

There have been plenty of momentum swings. The Blues seemed to own the upper hand in Game 1 and successfully countered all of the Stars’ attacks. But in Game 2, the Stars turned the tide and took total control. Game 3 involved a rough performance for Ben Bishop that St. Louis capitalized on as they secured the 4-3 win. The fourth game was all Dallas as they powered to a 4-2 win. In Game 5, the Blues looked like the better team, but were stymied by Bishop as Dallas reeled in a close 2-1 victory. And in Game 6, the Blues used a last-ditch assault that seemed to catch the Stars off guard.

"“I feel great about a Game 7. When I was a little kid, every time I played street hockey or played in my basement with my cousin, it was Game 7 every time. I’m excited.” – Stars coach Jim Montgomery on Game 7"

The better team has won each game. There have been some missed calls in each game, but those are bound to happen. There have been some close plays, but those happen, too. But at the end of the day, the better team has won each game. That’s an important piece to remember in this puzzle.

And now, the two clubs are bound for one last bout for all the marbles. Emotions and tensions are high, and that’s what it’s all about.

This series has enjoyed all the makings of a fantastic playoff series. When you have all of those makings together, it seems as though a Game 7 is the only way to perfectly wrap it all up in a neat bow.

The last six games are in the past. Now, it’s time to put all eyes on the match that will decide it all.

“It’s exciting,” said Stars captain Jamie Benn. “What a great opportunity in front of us and for both teams to go out there and battle it out for one game. Winner take all.”