3 Keys: Stars at Golden Knights, Game 1 of Western Conference Final

(C2) Stars at (P1) Golden Knights

Western Conference Final, Game 1

8:30 p.m. ET; ESPN, ESPN+, CBC, SN, TVAS

LAS VEGAS -- Dallas Stars coach Peter DeBoer is a believer that momentum can carry from one series to the next. Jason Robertson is too, especially because of the way in which the Stars won Game 7 of the Western Conference Second Round against the Seattle Kraken on Monday.

"I think definitely we can feed off of it," said Robertson, a Stars forward. "Game 7 was our most complete game of the postseason. That's kind of the standard we want to play at. Limiting chances off the rush, turnovers, not giving them easy offense. Those are recipes for success against any team."

If the Stars feel that way after a 2-1 win in Game 7, then the Golden Knights should too, because they're coming off two strong games against the Edmonton Oilers in the second round that allowed them to close that series in six games, 4-3 in Game 5 and 5-2 in Game 6.

The Stars and Golden Knights each carry confidence and momentum into Game 1 of the Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena on Friday. The question is who will have them after Game 1.

RELATED: [Complete Golden Knights vs. Stars series coverage]

"To win the ultimate goal here it's always going to get harder and harder," Vegas forward Jonathan Marchessault said. "That's a challenge we're definitely looking forward to and I think we'll be able to have success."

A big storyline at the start of this series centers on DeBoer, who spent the previous three seasons coaching the Golden Knights, leading them to the West Final against Dallas in 2020.

Vegas fired DeBoer on May 16, 2022, after they missed the playoffs last season. He was hired by the Stars on June 21. He returned to T-Mobile Arena to coach against the Golden Knights twice in the regular season, leading the Stars to wins in games on Jan. 16 (4-0) and Feb. 25 (3-2 in a shootout).

"I'm all-in with the Dallas Stars and our group of players now," DeBoer said. "That's how this game works. I think we got through that stuff during the year, and for me this is a road building, one of the toughest in the League as we all know, and our guys have to be prepared to handle the momentum swings that come with playing in this building."

This is the second playoff series between Vegas and Dallas.

Teams that take a 1-0 lead in best-of-7 series hold an all-time series record of 512-242 (.679), including 5-7 (.416) in 2023.

Here are 3 keys to Game 1:

1. Oettinger vs. Hill

The goalie battle would seem to favor the Stars with Jake Oettinger, who was sixth in the NHL in goals-against average (2.37) and save percentage (.919) during the regular season (minimum 30 games). But it was Vegas' Adin Hill who had a better second round.

Hill was forced into Game 3 against the Oilers because of an injury to starter Laurent Brossoit and went 3-1 with a 2.19 goals-against average and .934 save percentage in five games. He made 38 straight saves in Game 6 after allowing goals on Edmonton's first two shots.

"It's been exciting," Hill said. "Something you dream of as a kid is to play in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. It's been a fun ride so far and I'm just looking to enjoy it day by day."

Oettinger, like the Stars, played arguably his best game of the second round in Game 7, making 22 saves, and he was 19 seconds away from a shutout when Kraken forward Oliver Bjorkstrand scored. He had been pulled in Games 3 and 6, and finished the series with a 3.50 GAA and .877 save percentage in seven games.

"I know I have another level in me," Oettinger said. "I expect a lot out of myself and I know I can be better in that Seattle series. That's a great thing about how good of a team we are, I didn't have my best series and we still won."

2. Encores for Eichel and Pavelski

Stars forward Joe Pavelski scored eight goals in seven games against the Kraken, including four in Game 1. Golden Knights center Jack Eichel had nine points (three goals, six assists) in six games against the Oilers.

Vegas knows all about Pavelski's ability with his stick to find pucks in front of the net for deflection and redirection goals.

Dallas certainly understands how dominant Eichel has been in the playoffs, playing a power forward game, controlling the puck and using his speed to back the defense off of him.

They are difference makers and come into the conference final riding on a confidence high.

3. Robertson's potential breakout

Robertson has gone eight straight games without a goal, his longest drought of the season.

The good news is Robertson feels he's been dangerous and getting chances, and does have six assists during his goal slump. The better news is his linemates, Roope Hintz and Pavelski, have been scoring instead and the Stars have been winning.

Robertson, though, is kind of like a sleeping giant. If he gets hot, the Golden Knights will have to watch out. He said he feels the time between series provided a reset for him and it could be what he needed.

"Had some practices, ready to get back to it and try to get some more goals," he said.

Stars projected lineup

Jason Robertson -- Roope Hintz -- Joe Pavelski

Mason Marchment -- Max Domi -- Tyler Seguin

Jamie Benn -- Wyatt Johnston -- Evgenii Dadonov

Luke Glendening -- Radek Faksa -- Joel Kiviranta

Ryan Suter -- Miro Heiskanen

Esa Lindell -- Colin Miller

Thomas Harley -- Joel Hanley

Jake Oettinger

Scott Wedgewood

Scratched:Ty Dellandrea, Nils Lundkvist, Jani Hakanpaa, Fredrik Olofsson, Riley Tufte

Injured:None

Golden Knights projected lineup

Ivan Barbashev -- Jack Eichel -- Jonathan Marchessault

Reilly Smith -- William Karlsson -- Nicolas Roy

Brett Howden -- Chandler Stephenson -- Mark Stone

William Carrier -- Teddy Blueger -- Keegan Kolesar

Alec Martinez -- Alex Pietrangelo

Brayden McNabb -- Shea Theodore

Nicolas Hague -- Zach Whitecloud

Adin Hill

Jonathan Quick

Scratched:Ben Hutton, Paul Cotter, Kaeden Korczak, Brayden Pachal, Michael Amadio, Phil Kessel

Injured:Laurent Brossoit (lower body), Logan Thompson (undisclosed)

Status report

Hakanpaa has been "dealing with a little something," DeBoer said, but the defenseman is with the Stars in Las Vegas and is available to play if needed. Hakanpaa missed Games 4 and 7 against the Kraken. Miller replaced him in Game 7.