Awful Beat For Stars Puck Line Bettors As The Kraken Score With Mere Seconds Left In Game 7

OUCH. I'm sure Dallas Stars fans who didn't throw any money down couldn't care less about a late goal. They're still on to the Conference Finals, where they'll get a chance to avenge their loss to Vegas from 2020. Stars coach Peter DeBoer was leading the Golden Knights back then. Some extra spice to it all.

Still though...have to feel for anyone who had Dallas -1.5. Credit to the Kraken for their spunkiness, I guess. They went from terrible in their inaugural season to five wins away from appearing in the Stanley Cup Finals. Not a bad trajectory to be on. Would've been dope to see Seattle move on. Their home venue Climate Pledge Arena — colloquially known as The Deep — is so sick. It's a crime against America that the SuperSonics aren't back yet. Seattle is a dope city for sports. The Kraken have been unleashed, the 12th Man at the Seahawks games is electric and even the Mariners' upward trajectory is a source of pride.

We could've gotten a little update to this graphic to add to the pain of teams like the Maple Leafs and other more established clubs who can't seem to get over that postseason hump:

Alas. But hey...the Stars did put on a hell of a show Monday night. Jake Oettinger shook off some uncharacteristically shaky outings to play well in net for Dallas. Oettinger's counterpart, Kraken goalie Philip Grubauer, played even better. It took a careless own-zone turnover for the first goal, and a lackadaisical effort that turned a should've-been icing into Wyatt Johnston's GWG. 

Dallas had 14 takeaways to the Kraken's three, so controlling the puck was an issue for much of the night for the visitors. However, Seattle blocked an incredible 22 shot attempts by the Stars as Grubauer still made 26 saves. Gives you an idea of how relentless the hosts' attack was.

Nobody would have Seattle +1.5. You could argue bettors on the other side had a lot to be celebrating. It wouldn't have been as profitable to be on that side, and you'd have to combine it in a two-leg parlay to get any decent value out of it. Or so I'd think. I mean, Dallas' moneyline last I saw before the puck drop was -195. Better puck line odds for an underdog than usual, but the value on that line rests with the favorite. Plus let's face it: we're sports-obsessive humans on the Internet. Let's dwell on the downside, baby!! I'm kidding. Only kind of.

Again, the Stars will take a "W" any way they can get it. Just was so avoidable to let in that late cheap one by Oliver Bjorkstrand. Sloppy attention to detail after the face-off. The desperate Kraken were hacking away looking for anything to break at that point. Obviously the net was open at the other end. A simple clear would've bled time off the clock, or with a little luck, would've netted Dallas a second insurance goal. Tough puck line beat indeed.

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