The anticipation for the 199th Game 7 in NHL history is palpable, especially with the matchup between the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars. Historically evenly matched, the Avalanche have shown superiority in five-on-five play, leading in shot attempts, scoring chances, and expected goals. However, their downfall has been on special teams, and goaltender Jake Oettinger of the Stars has been outstanding, saving nearly three goals above average, keeping the Stars in contention.

The Avalanche have a dismal record in Game 7s, having lost six straight since their last win in 2022. Coach Jared Bednar and star Nathan MacKinnon have yet to clinch a Game 7 victory, while Stars coach Pete DeBoer has an impressive 100% win rate in such situations. The stakes couldn’t be higher, especially with key absences on the Stars roster, including Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson, raising questions about their ability to compete with a full-strength Avalanche team.

Madison Chock and Evan Bates made history by becoming the first ice dance duo in 28 years to clinch a third consecutive world title, scoring 222.06 points overall. Their stellar performance in the free dance captivated audiences, marking a high point in their career, as Bates expressed, "This will go right to the top of the list forever."

Canada's Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier secured the silver with a total of 216.54 points, while Britain's Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson took bronze, scoring a total of 207.11. Chock and Bates are now the first to win three straight world titles since the legendary Oksana Grishuk and Evgeni Platov from 1994 to 1997. Their focus now shifts to the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, aiming to treat it as their final chance.