Kraken defeat Stars in Game 6, push Western 2nd Round to limit

Jordan Eberle had two goals and an assist, and the Seattle Kraken tied the Western Conference Second Round with a 6-3 win against the Dallas Stars in Game 6 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Saturday.

Game 7 of the best-of-7 series will be at Dallas on Monday (8 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN, TVAS).

"It's a Game 7, who knows what's going to happen?" Seattle forward Yanni Gourde said. "But we're giving ourselves a chance and we're excited about the challenge. We've got to think about the first few shifts and don't look too far ahead. … So, you've just got to focus on the moment, be present and do the right things over and over, and eventually good things will happen."

Eeli Tolvanen had a goal and two assists, and Gourde and Matty Beniers each had a goal and an assist for the Kraken, who are the first wild card from the West. Philipp Grubauer made 20 saves.

Mason Marchment, Joe Pavelski and Joel Kiviranta scored for the Stars, the No. 2 seed from the Central Division, who had won the previous two games. Jake Oettinger made 14 saves on 18 shots before being pulled early in the second period, and Scott Wedgewood made nine saves in relief.

"We knew they were going to come out fast," Dallas coach Peter DeBoer said. "Just didn't help ourselves, turned pucks over. When the other team's hungry like that in an elimination game and you're on the road, you've got to at least be the smarter team with the puck. I thought we compounded our mistakes and fed their energy in the first period. Having said that, tough time of year to beat any team three games in a row."

RELATED: [Video: DAL@SEA, Gm6: Gourde puts Kraken ahead 1-0 in the 1st]

Gourde gave the Kraken a 1-0 lead at 8:59 of the first period on his own rebound at the top of the crease.

"I loved the way our team handled today," Seattle coach Dave Hakstol said. "We knew what was on the line. Those guys, as a staff, we didn't have to say a whole lot. We went through some specific preparation but very simple preparation. We just felt like right from the get-go this morning, our guys had a good focus. They were relaxed overall, and that formula has led to pretty intense starts for us and it did tonight."

Marchment tied it 1-1 just 31 seconds later when Tyler Seguin's cross-ice pass bounced off Marchment's body at 9:30.

"Those are killers," Eberle said. "I thought we did a good job after though, weathering the storm, but timely goals against after you score when they get the momentum back, those are killers. You see the big shifts in the game where there's momentum, and you have to either get it back or you've got to keep it, so we've got to understand those situations."

Eberle gave Seattle a 2-1 lead on the power play at 16:46 when he collected a rebound at the top of the crease and shot into an open net with Oettinger scrambling.

"We were ready tonight," Tolvanen said. "I felt like last couple of games they've been maybe that ready team from the start. I think that was the big key today. I think all four lines were ready to play and we showed up."

Tolvanen made it 3-1 at 1:34 of the second period with a one-timer from a sharp angle off a backhand feed by Oliver Bjorkstrand.

Tye Kartye extended the lead to 4-1 at 4:23 on a wrist shot from the left face-off circle to the short side, chasing Oettinger.

"I think that kind of game just can't happen at this time of the year," said Stars defenseman Esa Lindell, who was on the ice for five Kraken goals (minus-4). "Just so disappointed at myself too. Only thing now is to move on, get ready for Game 7, and be way, way better in that one."

Pavelski cut it to 4-2 at 5:37 on the power play with a tip-in from the top of the crease. It was his eighth goal of the series, setting a franchise record.

Beniers extended the lead to 5-2 at 8:43 of the third period.

Kiviranta cut it to 5-3 just 15 seconds later when he tipped in a Thomas Harley point shot at 8:58.

Eberle scored into an empty net at 19:02 for the 6-3 final.

"I mean, that's what you work for all year, to try and get as high as you can in the standings for situations like this (with home ice)," Stars captain Jamie Benn said. "I'm sure it's going to be crazy there."

NOTES: Pavelski tied Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals with 72 Stanley Cup Playoff goals, the most among active players. With eight goals in the playoffs, he is tied with Martin St. Louis (New York Rangers, 2014) and Johnny Bucyk (Boston Bruins, 1974) for the most in a postseason by a player age 38 or older. … The Stars/Minnesota North Stars record for goals in a series had been held by Steve Payne (1981 Preliminary Round against the Bruins) and Tony McKegny (1985 Norris Division Final against the Chicago Black Hawks). … Kartye and Beniers are tied with Stars forward Wyatt Johnston for the most goals by a rookie this postseason (three).