Game 7 is the best and the worst thing about being a sports fan
[embedded content] Game 7’s are what sports fans live for. It’s the best and worst thing in all of sports if you’re a fan of either team participating in game 7. The anxiety can only be matched if you’re in a literal survival mode scenario as if you’re being chased by a grizzly bear in […]
Game 7’s are what sports fans live for. It’s the best and worst thing in all of sports if you’re a fan of either team participating in game 7. The anxiety can only be matched if you’re in a literal survival mode scenario as if you’re being chased by a grizzly bear in the middle of the woods with no way out. I’m not kidding, my resting heart rate during game 2 of this series was 118 BPM. Game 7 heart rate is still to be determined. Game 7 is the best and the worst thing about being a sports fan and game 7 between the Stars and Avalanche was the epitome of game 7.
I had anxiety about this game starting Thursday night as soon as the first empty net goal went in for Colorado. As a fan of the Dallas Stars, it was always going to go to game 7 in this first round matchup, it was destiny. Game 7 is the best and the worst thing about being a sports fan.
First Period Thoughts
The biggest difference in the games that the Stars have one this series is not letting in the super early goal within the first ten minutes and not coming out on their heels. Game 7 started off better than all three of their losses so far, and they even got on the power play just a few minutes into the game.
I thought there was a chance that the Stars would blow the roof off of American Airlines Center during that power play, but it was fairly passive. Passes didn’t connect in high danger areas, and Colorado played a beautiful PK.
Before the ten minute mark, Jamie Benn high sticked Val Nichushkin in the crease where the Stars had several high danger opportunities during the shift. Huge blow and it ended up being a double minor. A massive no-no from the Captain in a game 7.
However, the Stars were the best PK in the league (until the last five games or so of the season) for a reason. Clinical clears and amazing saves from Jake Oettinger kept the game scoreless after four minutes of man advantage for Colorado.
The rest of the period was exactly what I feel like most game 7’s are like. It was near impossible to get into either offensive zone, and there weren’t really any high danger scoring chances from either team. The game wasn’t sloppy by any means, it was just a great job by both teams not allowing the other to get into their comfort zone.
Mikael Granlund ended up with a subpar shot on goal later in the period that hit off of Mackenzie Blackwood’s shoulder and rattled off the post. It was not a high danger chance, but the post makes it seem like it was. Granny has been sneaky for the Stars since being acquired back in the earlier part of the year, and he showed why he’s so sneaky during that play.
The rest of the period went by without much going on in the offensive zone, and the teams went to the locker room still knotted where they were to begin the game. 0-0.
Second Period Thoughts
The second period was a doozy. The first period there were hardly any chances, and the second remained the same.
The Stars were on the power play with just around ten minutes remaining in the period. Thomas Harley was sent a puck at the blue line to continue the cycle but the pass wasn’t good enough and Logon O’Connor was able to sweep the puck down the boards and get passed Harley. Disaster struck for the Stars as the Avs went up 1-0 on a shorthanded goal.
I was distraught at this point because the Avs scoring the first goal was a huge blow to the team, but it was a shorty. A shorthanded goal is a recipe for something terrible to come the rest of the game. Luckily neither team hit the score sheet for the remainder of the period.
Third Period Thoughts
Here’s where things go from bad to worse for the Dallas Stars. Just seconds into the period, Nichushkin gets interfered with and Colorado pulled the goalie for the six on five advantage. If the Stars touch up, they go to the penalty kill, if they don’t, well, let’s just say awful things happen.
Nathan Mackinnon netted his seventh goal of the series with the six on five advantage and beat Oettinger sort of like Wyatt Johnston beat Blackwood in the opening seconds of game five.
The crowd was all the way out of it and you couldn’t even hear groans. Just dead silence. The worst was yet to come as the Avs got a power play with just under ten minutes to go in the game, and it seemed like literally all hope was lost.
Luckily for the Stars, they traded for this fella Mikko Rantanen, who just so happened to play for the Colorado Avalanche a mere few months ago. With about 12 minutes remaining in the game, Mikko got a pass from Oskar Bäck at the point and he sent that puck straight bar down. A thing of absolute beauty, and the Stars were just one more goal away from evening the game in a game 7.
Mikko has been exceptional throughout the series, but starting in game five he’s been the best player for either side. We’re not done with Mikko talk just yet.
Several minutes had passed and Stars fans were anxious. The crowd was still in the game, but getting a tad bit more worried as the Stars power play couldn’t get anything near the net, let alone get a clean entry into the offensive zone.
At this point everyone in the press box had noticed that Mikko was double and sometimes even triple shifting with every line the Stars put on the ice. The motor on Mikko never seemed to give out in the third period.
With 30 seconds or so on the power play left, Mikko took the puck into the zone with three Avs players right on him. He skated behind the net and tried a wraparound shot. Puck luck is created and earned, not given. The puck bounced off an Avs skate and directly into the net and my ears are still ringing from that crowd pop.
Again, puck luck is created and earned, not given. The Stars go on ANOTHER power play just a couple of minutes later, and this one didn’t take much time off the clock at all. Mikko (again) sends a pass to Matt Duchene, Dutchy fired the puck across the crease to a wide open Wyatt Johnston, and Mr. Game 7 himself earned himself the lead.
The pass was super hot coming from Dutchy, and Wyatt handled it with poise and composure as he found the open net, and American Airlines Center was electric.
Obviously, with just under four minutes left in the game, there is plenty of time for the Avs to get the tying goal. They pulled their goalie with a little under two minutes left in the game, and all cheeks were clenched from there until just under three seconds left in the game.
We’re not done with Mikko Rantanen. He gets the puck and skates it into the open net for a hat trick in game 7 against his former team. Stories like this in sports are incapable of being scripted better than that. Four points in game 7, 12 points in the series, and a whole lot of moose was shown in that game.
It was an incredible game for theatrics and storylines, but that series is officially in the past. The Stars move onto the second round to face off against either Winnipeg Jets or St. Louis Blues for a chance at a third straight Western Conference Finals trip.
This team is incredibly deep, and they don’t have their best defenseman or one of their top goal scorers in Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson. The fact that they were able to get past this super deep Colorado Avalanche team without them gives me all the warm and fuzzies for the rest of this playoff run. Stars win. Play that song.
Game 7 is the best and the worst thing about being a sports fan, and luckily for Dallas Stars fans, it was the best night we’ve had in a long time.
Naperville Central girls water polo holds off Waubonsie Valley to reach sectional final
Three-seed Naperville Central girls water polo and Waubonsie Valley square off for a chance to play against Naperville North in the sectional finals. The Warriors defeated the Redhawks 7-6 in the regular season. This highlight is sponsored by BMO. Kaylee Shiffer records an early hat trick for Naperville Central In the early going, Julia Weber finds […]
Three-seed Naperville Central girls water polo and Waubonsie Valley square off for a chance to play against Naperville North in the sectional finals. The Warriors defeated the Redhawks 7-6 in the regular season. This highlight is sponsored by BMO.
Kaylee Shiffer records an early hat trick for Naperville Central
In the early going, Julia Weber finds Kaylee Shiffer near the net, and she puts the Redhawks on the board. It’s 1-0 after three minutes of play.
Now in the second quarter, the Warriors are looking to answer. Malini Madiman passes to Reece Clavey on the right wing, and she tosses it over the goalie’s outstretched arms. That one ties the game at 1-1 with five minutes left in the half.
Minutes later, Maddie Malinger connects with Kaylee Shiffer near the goal, and she goes up high for another score. Shiffer now has a hat trick, giving the Redhawks a 4-2 lead with three minutes to play in the second quarter.
Waubonsie Valley girls water polo keeps it close in the IHSA Girls Water Polo Sectional Semifinal
With a minute left in the half, Reece Clavey delivers a perfect pass to Calin Ball, and she tosses it into the back of the net. The Warriors close the gap to 4-3 with one minute left in the half.
Now in the second half, Meghan Tueting connects with Molly Moore, who gives a couple of pump fakes before firing it into the back of the net. That one extends the Naperville Central lead to 6-3.
Moments later, Calin Ball passes it ahead to Ruby Meier, and she’s all alone. She goes one-on-one with the goalie and wins the battle. It’s now a 6-4 game with four minutes to play in the third quarter.
Meier and Weber score two more, and Central girls water polo defeats Waubonsie
After a penalty, Ruby Meier has a free shot at the goal against Eleni Nicoloudes. She targets the top corner, but Nicoloudes gets a hand on it and keeps it out of the net. The big save preserves the Redhawk lead at 6-4.
With less than a minute left in the third quarter, Megan Tueting throws it to Julia Weber in front of the net, and she’s able to ward off the Waubonsie defenders and score another goal for Naperville Central. That one gives the Redhawks an 8-4 lead. Waubonsie Valley goes on to score two goals in the fourth, but Naperville Central hangs on to win 8-6, advancing to the sectional finals against Naperville North.
For more prep sports highlights, visit the Naperville Sports Weekly page.
High school volleyball: Southern Section boys’ championship results
SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS SATURDAY’S RESULTS FINALS At Cerritos College DIVISION 3 Tesoro d. Orange Lutheran, 25-16, 25-16, 27-25 DIVISION 5 Kennedy d. Esperanza, 23-25, 27-25, 25-20, 26-24 DIVISION 9 CAMS d. Downey Calvary Chapel, 25-16, 25-20, 25-19 Advertisement DIVISION 6 El Toro d. Quartz Hill, 17-25, 28-26, 25-21, 25-19 At Santa Barbara DIVISION […]
CAMS d. Downey Calvary Chapel, 25-16, 25-20, 25-19
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DIVISION 6
El Toro d. Quartz Hill, 17-25, 28-26, 25-21, 25-19
At Santa Barbara
DIVISION 4
Sage Hill d. Santa Barbara, 15-25, 25-13, 18-25, 25-20, 15-8
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
FINALS
At Cerritos College
DIVISION 1
Mira Costa d. Huntington Beach, 25-19, 22-25, 25-19, 29-31, 15-11
At Mater Dei
DIVISION 2
Mater Dei d. Peninsula, 20-25, 25-17, 25-13, 25-19
At Crossroads
DIVISION 8
Wildwood d. Katella, 25-22, 25-15, 25-15
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
FINALS
DIVISION 7
San Gabriel Academy d. Brea Olinda, 3-2
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
CIF-SS Track & Field Championships 2025 – The562.org
Tyler Hendrickson Tyler Hendrickson was born and raised in Long Beach, and started covering sports in his hometown in 2010. After five years as a sportswriter, Tyler joined the athletic department at Long Beach State University in 2015. He spent more than four years in the athletic communications department, working primarily with the Dirtbags baseball […]
Tyler Hendrickson was born and raised in Long Beach, and started covering sports in his hometown in 2010. After five years as a sportswriter, Tyler joined the athletic department at Long Beach State University in 2015. He spent more than four years in the athletic communications department, working primarily with the Dirtbags baseball program. Tyler also co-authored of The History of Long Beach Poly: Scholars & Champions.
Santa Barbara High Boys Volleyball Defeated in Five Sets by Sage Hill in CIF-SS Division Four Championship Match
With the CIF Southern Section Division 4 Championship Plaque at its fingertips the Santa Barbara High boys’ volleyball team had no answer for Sage Hill and its superstar outside hitter Jackson Cryst. The visiting Lightning took control in the decisive fifth set behind Cryst’s dominance and captured a 15-25, 25-14, 18-25, 25-20, 15-8 victory on […]
With the CIF Southern Section Division 4 Championship Plaque at its fingertips the Santa Barbara High boys’ volleyball team had no answer for Sage Hill and its superstar outside hitter Jackson Cryst.
The visiting Lightning took control in the decisive fifth set behind Cryst’s dominance and captured a 15-25, 25-14, 18-25, 25-20, 15-8 victory on Saturday afternoon at J.R. Richards Gymnasium.
“To get here is quite an accomplishment, but to win it is even harder,” said Santa Barbara High coach Chad Arneson. “Give our boys a lot of credit they played hard. Unfortunately it wasn’t one of our best overall team performances, but I’m so proud of these boys.”
The Dons advanced to the CIF-SS Division 4 Championship games despite finishing third in the Channel League. Santa Barbara has thrived in the playoffs as a balanced unit with nearly equal contributions coming from everyone on the floor.
Senior Benicio Duarte sophomore Hayes Costner led the way for Santa Barbara offensively with 12 kills apiece.
“I’m proud of our guys. We did not look this good at the start of the season,” said Santa Barbara High senior defensive specialist Jack Goligoski, who finished with a team-high three aces . “This whole playoff run, we’ve kind of found our lineup and everyone’s just stepped up and played great team volleyball. We don’t have any real standouts, but we always play really well together.”
Santa Barbara was dominant in the opening set, including a 5-1 run capped off by a Costner kill for the final point. However, Sage Hill flipped the script in set 2, jumping out to a 17-7 lead and evened the match at one set apiece after an electric ace serve by Cryst.
Sage Hill humped out to a 4-0 lead in set three after a Santa Barbara hitting error, but the Dons quickly recovered and tied the set at 6-6 on a kill by Kristian Dybdahl.
The momentum shift was evident as a Luke Zuffelato kill increased the Santa Barbara lead to 19-13. A dump by Santa Barbara setter Chase Holdren brought the Dons to set point at 24-18 and Santa Barbara clinched the set on a Sage Hill hitting error.
Set four was tight throughout as a solo block by Zuffelato cut the Santa Barbara deficit to 22-20 and forced a Sage Hill timeout.
Luke Zuffelato and Jackson Cryst meet at the net. Photo Credit: Gary Kim
Cryst delivered a powerful spike out of the timeout to give Sage Hill a 23-20 lead and the Lightning went on to force a fifth and final set after an ace serve by Ethan McNutt.
In set five, a kill by Costner cut the Santa Barbara deficit to 7-6, but a Cryst kill gave Sage Hill a 9-7 lead and forced a Santa Barbara time out.
After the break Sage Hill closed the match on a 6-1 run, including three powerful kills by Cryst and a solo block that gave the lightning a 14-8 lead. Sage Hill clinched set five and the CIF-SS Championship on a Santa Barbara hitting error.
Cryst, who is committed to play college volleyball for reigning NCAA Division 1 National Champions Long Beach State, had six kills in the fifth set.
“We definitely rely on him, but the others that contributed absolutely made an impact and made his job easier,” said Sage Hill coach Jordan Hoppe of Cryst. “Obviously he is very talented and has incredible gifts, but without the other guys we don’t win a title.”
The victory clinched back-to-back CIF-SS Championships for Sage Hill as the Lightning won in Division 5 last season.
El Toro boys volleyball completes hard climb by winning Division 6 title – Orange County Register
NORWALK — Just two years removed from a 1-23 season, the El Toro boys volleyball team reached the summit and made school history in the process. The Chargers capped a sensational turnaround Saturday with a victory over Quartz Hill in four sets, 17-25, 28-26, 25-21, 25-19, in the Division 6 final at Cerritos College. It is […]
NORWALK — Just two years removed from a 1-23 season, the El Toro boys volleyball team reached the summit and made school history in the process.
The Chargers capped a sensational turnaround Saturday with a victory over Quartz Hill in four sets, 17-25, 28-26, 25-21, 25-19, in the Division 6 final at Cerritos College.
It is the first CIF-SS boys volleyball championship for El Toro.
El Toro coach Sean Dixon, in his third-year at the helm, reflected on the journey that saw his team go from nearly worst to first.
““To be the first program to do it at El Toro and really to be a program that started at the bottom and made it to the top,” Dixon said, “obviously we have state next week, but, you know, they’re going to remember this for the rest of their lives. And it’s going to be such a good experience that they look back on fondly.”
Senior outside hitter Ryan Lim collected a match-high 24 kills and 14 digs for El Toro (18-15), which was the No. 2 seed in Division 6.
Senior Jeremy Gould finished with 12 kills,12 digs and three aces and Ziyuan Liu added 10 kills. Senior setter Moses Kim had 52 assists while controlling the action while Ben Earnsahw and Colin Fletcher provided key plays in crucial moments.
The Royals (27-13) took the opening set thanks to their middle blocker, Joseph Bonner, who had four kills in the set. Quartz Hill also tallied six total blocks at the net.
“I think we were all a little bit nervous and to be fair, I think that is a good thing,” Dixon said. “But it was really nothing new for us. This is, I want to say, the fourth match in a row where we’ve been down a set at a certain point.”
Lim shared his thoughts on the pregame and opening-set jitters as well.
“I was feeling it myself, the entire bus ride here, to be honest,” Lim said. “Yeah, I was walking here, and my hands were shaking and everything. First set, my chest was tight and everything, and I guarantee you, the other guys were feeling it too. But, you know, once we get in our rhythm, we ball out.”
“I give credit to our two captains, Moses Kim and Ben Earnshaw, for really just keeping the guys calm on the court,” Dixon said. “Li bringing everyone in after every point. I think that was just the biggest difference.”
The Chargers fought off a set-point opportunity for the Royals in the second set, on a swing by Earnshaw, then after a service error , found themselves in danger of going down 2-0 in the match once again.
Lim’s kill and Fletcher’s ace gave El Toro a chance at their own set point, which Gould helped win, 28-26, after a long rally and a tough swing at the pin.
“We just kind of got fired up after that (first set),” Gould said. “We’re like, ‘We can’t let this be our last play, you know? We gotta just bring all we have.”
Dixon praised Lim’s play, especially as the match progressed. Lim had eight kills in the second set, five in the third and six in the fourth.
“He’s just one of those guys that gets stronger as the game goes on,” Dixon said.
Dixon took one final introspective glance at his team’s journey and described the joy it brought him.
“I’m more happy for the guys because it’s really tough to win only one match (in 2023) and really just to stay positive after you’re basically losing every game,” he said. “I’m just so happy for them. You know, they really worked hard. I just remember them being young sophomores who really just got their first taste of varsity. A lot of them didn’t play JV, it’s just incredible.”
John Burroughs’ Shaan Patel finishes as Class 3 singles champ to cap reclaimed season
By Bill Hester, Special to the Post-Dispatch Eureka senior Rocco Regnier had two words to describe his opponent in the Class 3 singles championship match of the Missouri boys tennis state championships. “Too good,” Regnier said Saturday after falling 6-0, 6-1 to John Burroughs junior Shaan Patel at Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield. Patel has shown the […]
Eureka senior Rocco Regnier had two words to describe his opponent in the Class 3 singles championship match of the Missouri boys tennis state championships.
“Too good,” Regnier said Saturday after falling 6-0, 6-1 to John Burroughs junior Shaan Patel at Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield.
Patel has shown the country his abilities, as he reached the No. 1 position nationally in the boys 16 division of the United States Tennis Association (USTA).
It appeared for much of the season that the southpaw would not be able to show off his skills in his own state as he was originally declared ineligible by the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA).
“I got a call on a Tuesday afternoon about two or three weeks before districts that I was eligible,” said Patel, who recently committed to play at Columbia University in New York City. “I was super surprised and super happy.”
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Patel lost just six games in his four matches this weekend in winning his second state singles title. He won as a freshman in 2023 before playing golf last fall.
“I thought this match was my best one for sure here,” said Patel of his win against Regnier, who had given him his biggest challenge two years ago. “I struggled with the wind a little earlier. Today I felt I was able to dictate the points more, and I didn’t have too many unforced errors.”
Regnier played well overall and had some highlight-level points, but he was only able to capture the second game of the second set. The match ended on a service winner by Patel which Regnier barely got his racket on.
“It was good to come back and win again,” Patel said. “But one of the big reasons I wanted to come back was to win as a team. The hardest part of tennis is that it is just you against your opponent. Being on a team is another aspect of tennis that I like. We have a very good team which has a chance to do well next weekend.”
The state team tournament will be played next Friday and Saturday in Springfield.
John Burroughs had a pair of doubles teams which medaled at state. Evan Tang and Jerry Chang finished second while Jasper Schmidt and Avi Patel were fourth.
Both teams lost to eventual champions Bobby King and Henry Stevens of Rockhurst. The win by King, who won state singles last year, and Stevens prevented a St. Louis sweep at individual state this year.
Clayton won both the singles and doubles titles Friday in Class 1. MICDS did the same in Class 2.
Marquette had medalists in both singles and doubles. Arnab Chakraborty was sixth in singles while Sreeyash Peyyeti and Ryan Prys were fifth in doubles.
Two doubles teams from the Gateway Athletic Conference found themselves on the podium Saturday.
Fort Zumwalt West’s Tanner Reese and Tristan Vaughan were seventh, and Francis Howell’s Wesley Troyer and Aaron Burzynski were eighth.
Francis Howell North’s Kai Gustafson and Jace Jameson was the only team to win a set against doubles champions King and Stevens.
Area state medalists
1. Shaan Patel, John Burroughs
6. Arnab Chakraborty, Marquette
2. Evan Tang-Jerry Chang, John Burroughs
4. Jasper Schmidt-Avi Patel, John Burroughs
5. Sreeyash Peyyeti-Ryan Prys, Marquette
7. Tanner Reese-Tristan Vaughan, Fort Zumwalt West
(via whatthemk/TT)
