Recreation 1 of the 2025 Western Convention finals was a reminder to followers of an everlasting Stanley Cup playoff fact: By no means flip the sport off till the ultimate horn.
Trailing 3-1 coming into the third interval, the Dallas Stars scored 5 objectives en path to a 6-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers.
Can Edmonton push again in Recreation 2 (8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN+) on Friday? Or will Dallas carry a 2-0 benefit with them to Alberta for the subsequent two video games? Listed below are matchup notes from ESPN Analysis, in addition to betting intel from ESPN BET:
Extra: Recreation 1 recap | Grades
Matchup notes
Edmonton Oilers at Dallas Stars
Recreation 2 | 8 p.m. ET | ESPN/ESPN+
After a Recreation 1 win for the Stars, Dallas is now a -190 favourite to win the collection, per ESPN BET, whereas the Oilers are +160. The Stars’ Stanley Cup odds at the moment are +200, whereas the Oilers’ are +350. Mikko Rantanen (+300) has jumped forward of Connor McDavid (+450) atop the Conn Smythe Trophy odds leaderboard.
Groups to win Recreation 1 of a best-of-seven collection have gone on to win these collection 68% of the time in Stanley Cup playoff historical past. In 2025, these groups have received 9 of 12 collection (75%).
The Stars scored three power-play objectives 5:58 into the third interval of Recreation 1, changing into the second crew since 1934 (when objectives by sort have been formally tracked) with three power-play objectives within the opening six minutes of a playoff interval; together with the New York Rangers in Recreation 1 of the 2014 convention finals (4:36).
Dallas’ 5 complete objectives within the third interval of Recreation 1 are probably the most within the third interval of a sport in Stars/North Stars franchise historical past.
Dallas defenseman Miro Heiskanen now has 13 profession multipoint video games within the playoffs, tied with Sergei Zubov for probably the most by a defensemen in franchise historical past.
Rantanen has 20 factors this postseason. It’s his third profession postseason with 20 factors, making him one among six energetic gamers to succeed in the 20-point mark in three or extra consecutive postseasons. The checklist additionally consists of Sidney Crosby (4 occasions), Nikita Kucherov (4), Patrick Kane (three), Evgeni Malkin (three) and McDavid (three).
Leon Draisaitl and McDavid have been each elements on the identical playoff objective for the 69th time of their postseason careers, which is the fourth most by any pair of teammates in NHL historical past, behind Wayne Gretzky and Jari Kurri (132), Glenn Anderson and Mark Messier (86), in addition to Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier (85).
Stuart Skinner’s shutout streak ended at 142:42 because the fourth-longest shutout sequence within the playoffs in Oilers franchise historical past. He saved 55 straight photographs earlier than permitting Tyler Seguin’s first objective of the sport.
Scoring leaders
GP: 14 | G: 9 | A: 11
GP: 12 | G: 6 | A: 13
