Seventh Heaven - Game Seven In The NHL Playoffs

On Monday the Vancouver Canucks and Dallas Stars will battle it out in a winner-takes-all grudge match game seven! Here's the history behind the story:

This will be the Canucks 9th game 7 in team history Their record: 4W and 4L. Including their time as the Minnesota North Stars, this will be Dallas' 11th showdown. Their record: 5W and 5L:

Vancouver Canucks Game 7 History

Minnesota/Dallas Stars Game 7 History

4/15/89, Smythe Division SF VAN 3 at CGY 4, OT 4/30/92, Smythe Division SF WPG 0 at VAN 5 4/30/94, Western Conference QF VAN 4 at CGY 3, 2OT 6/14/94, Stanley Cup Final VAN 2 at NYR 3 5/19/95, Western Conference QF VAN 5 at STL 3 4/22/03, Western Conference QF STL 1 at VAN 4 5/8/03, Western Conference SF MIN 4 at VAN 2 4/19/04, Western Conference QF CGY 3 at VAN 2, OT

4/18/68, Quarterfinal MIN 9 at L.A 4 5/3/68, Semifinal MIN 1 at STL 2, 2OT 4/16/72, Quarterfinal STL 2 at MIN 1, OT 4/27/80, Quarterfinal MIN 3 at MTL 2 4/22/84, Norris Division Final STL 3 at MIN 4, OT 4/16/90, Norris Division SF MIN 2 at CHI 5 4/30/92, Norris Division SF MIN 2 at DET 5 4/29/97, Western Conference QF EDM 4 at DAL 3, OT 6/4/99, Western Conference Final COL 1 at DAL 4 5/27/00, Western Conference Final COL 2 at DAL 3

Trevor Linden has played in every game 7 in Vancouver history. In those games he's scored 5 goals and 5 assist for 10 points. Bryan Smolinski is the next most experienced Canuck with 6 game 7s (record: 1W - 5L, 0 goals 2 assists) and Brendan Morrison with 4 games (record: 1W - 3L, 1 goal 2 assists).

Leading Dallas with 6 games played are defenseman Darryl Sydor (record: 5W - 1L, 1 assist) and Sergei Zubov (record: 4W -2L, 1 goal 4 assists), followed by 5 time appearances by Mike Modano (record: 2W - 3L , 1 goal 1 assist) and Jon Klemm (record: 2W - 3L, no points).

This is the first game seven for both goalies and both coaches.

Given the great goaltending of Roberto Luongo and Marty Turco and the sputtering offense of both teams, there may be a good chance this game seven will go into overtime. If so, it would mark the 3th time a game 7 entered extra time. Of the 119 series in League playoff history that have gone to seven games, 29 have been decided in overtime. In the last such contest, the Calgary Flames defeated the Canucks at Vancouver on a goal by Martin Gelinas at 1:25 of the first overtime to claim the Western Conference Quarterfinal on April 19, 2004.

Home teams have posted a 15-14 record in the 29 games, although road clubs are 10-4 since 1990.