Whereas followers in Edmonton and Dallas are at all times singing about how they’ve pals in low locations, solely certainly one of them has the excessive floor within the Western Convention finals. And that is the Oilers after their 6-1 win Sunday in Recreation 3 to take a 2-1 collection lead.
With the collection knotted 1-1 coming into the competition, the target for Recreation 3 was to realize a agency grasp of the convention finals, and the Oilers did simply that by having 5 gamers with multipoint performances. As for the Stars, dropping Recreation 3 left them trailing a collection for simply the second time this postseason, with the one different such prevalence coming after Recreation 1 towards the Colorado Avalanche within the quarterfinal spherical.
Now that the Oilers are in charge of the collection, what does it imply for them going ahead? What should the Stars do in a different way forward of Recreation 4 for them to return residence tied somewhat than a sport away from elimination? Ryan S. Clark and Greg Wyshynski look at these questions whereas delving into what lies forward for 2 groups that not solely confronted one another within the convention last final season however between them have been concerned in each convention last since 2020.
Edmonton Oilers
Grade: A
A lot may change between now and each time the playoffs finish. However for now, the argument may very well be made that this was an important playoff sport the Oilers have had this postseason.
The Oilers have had quite a few sturdy performances, comparable to Recreation 3 towards the Los Angeles Kings within the quarterfinal spherical or their last two video games towards the Vegas Golden Knights within the convention semifinals. However what made the Oilers’ efficiency in Recreation 4 towards Dallas arguably their most vital was that they discovered a stability between being troublesome within the defensive zone whereas not counting on a shutout with the intention to accomplish that goal.
The Stars completed with 37 pictures, 13 high-danger possibilities in 5-on-5 play and scored solely as soon as. Connor McDavid has repeatedly burdened that the Oilers can play protection, and that is been made clear over their final 5 video games. However Sunday proved they did not want Stuart Skinner or their defensive construction to clean an opponent with the intention to win. — Ryan S. Clark
Dallas Stars
Grade: C+
The ultimate rating does not mirror the vast majority of this sport, which Dallas coach Pete DeBoer can mine for positives among the many many (many) negatives and a few mitigating circumstances. Having Roope Hintz heat up however not be capable of go due to the foot harm he suffered from a Darnell Nurse slash in Recreation 2? That is deflating. Having the on-ice officers miss a delay of sport name on Brett Kulak within the first interval solely to have Evan Bouchard open the scoring 10 seconds later? Additionally deflating.
So it is to the Stars’ credit score that they acquired to their sport at 5-on-5 in Recreation 3 higher than they’ve in any sport of the collection, not less than earlier than Edmonton ran up the rating within the third. The outcomes weren’t there and a loss is a loss — and a loss by this margin is troublesome to abdomen — however their second interval and the performances from a few of their slumbering depth gamers give the Stars not less than a glimmer.
Nevertheless, there is no query Edmonton has this factor in effectively in-hand and the Stars need to discover a option to resolve Skinner, which isn’t one thing I believed I might be writing at this stage of the postseason. — Greg Wyshynski
Three Stars of Recreation 3
Two objectives and an help for his seventh profession multigoal playoff sport. Hyman’s second purpose was the Oilers’ fourth off the frenzy, essentially the most in a single sport by any group this postseason. Hyman additionally was plus-5 Sunday.
Bouchard scored his sixth purpose of the postseason and these two had been on the ice for the primary two Edmonton objectives. At 5-on-5 this postseason, the Oilers are outscoring their opponents 7-1, and 5-0 on this collection, when Bouchard and Kulak are on the ice.
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Connor McDavid restores Oilers’ 2-goal lead
Connor McDavid finds the again of the online to revive the Oilers’ two-goal lead vs. the Stars.
3. Connor McDavid
C, Oilers
For all of the discuss concerning the lack of objectives from the very best hockey participant on this planet (which was odd as a result of he had 20 factors in 13 video games and was a plus-7 coming into Recreation 3 regardless of having solely three objectives), McDavid punched out a pair of tucks for his sixth profession multigoal playoff sport. Additionally, seeing McDavid with the puck barreling towards the online on a 3-on-1 is nightmare gasoline for opponents. — Arda Öcal
Gamers to observe in Recreation 4
Zach Hyman
LW, Oilers
To go from 16 objectives final postseason to simply three objectives coming into Recreation 3 of the convention finals is one option to assess Hyman. One other is to understand that he is been essentially the most bodily participant on a group that’s among the many tallest and heaviest within the NHL.
Hyman got here into Recreation 3 main the NHL with 99 hits. He remained bodily Sunday by main the best way with six hits in a sport that noticed the Oilers proceed their punishing fashion with 47. However to then see Hyman rating two objectives and end with three factors along with that physicality? It as soon as once more provides to the narrative that the Oilers may not solely have extra dimensions than final 12 months’s group, they may very well be higher than the group that completed Stanley Cup runner-up in 2024. — Clark
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Zach Hyman’s 2nd purpose places Oilers up 4
Zach Hyman faucets residence his second purpose of the sport to place the Oilers up 5-1 vs. the Stars.
That is the primary two-game dropping streak for the Dallas goaltender within the playoffs. Quite a lot of what occurred in Recreation 3 wasn’t essentially on him — a Connor McDavid magnificence and a Zach Hyman breakaway had been among the many Edmonton tallies — however outdoors of the third interval of Recreation 1, he isn’t been a difference-maker on this collection. Oettinger got here into the sport main the playoffs with 5.58 objectives saved above anticipated, in accordance with Stathletes. The Stars have been in a position to depend upon him as a slump-breaker. However that is his third sport with a save proportion south of .900 within the collection. Because the Stars attempt to construct on some positives from this sport, they want Otter to supply the muse for it — and within the course of, silence these “U.S. backup!” chants from the Oilers followers. — Wyshynski
Large questions for Recreation 4
Are the Oilers about to do to the Stars what they did to the Golden Knights?
Merely put, the Oilers are the place hope goes to die. Groups in a championship window which have but to win a title are at all times being judged on their evolution. What the Oilers did to the Stars a 12 months in the past within the convention finals by profitable the final three video games confirmed that they may shut out a collection after trailing. This postseason Edmonton has proven a calculated and methodical coldness in terms of placing away opponents.
The Golden Knights received Recreation 3 on a last-second purpose to create the idea they could have discovered a gap. They did not rating once more for the remainder of the playoffs after being within the high 5 of objectives per sport all through the common season. Breaking out for six objectives to open the collection appeared to be an indication the Stars might have discovered a gap. Since then? They’ve scored solely as soon as within the final six durations whereas going through questions on what’s occurred to a different group that went from being within the high 5 in objectives per sport within the common season. — Clark
Can Dallas make Edmonton uncomfortable in any respect?
Our colleague Mark Messier made this level between durations of Recreation 3: The Stars have but to do something to get McDavid or Leon Draisaitl off their video games. That extends to the remainder of the Oilers. Outdoors of an anomalous run of three power-play objectives within the third interval of Recreation 1, there have been treasured few situations of the Stars carrying play for lengthy stretches or placing a scare into Edmonton at 5-on-5.
That they had that for a bit in Recreation 3 with a dominant second interval: plus-14 in shot makes an attempt, plus-11 in scoring possibilities and a 10-1 benefit in high-danger shot makes an attempt. However they had been digging out of a 2-0 gap, solely managed to get one purpose of their very own on the board after which McDavid caught a dagger in them with 19 seconds left within the second.
The Stars want a lead. They want zone time. They should get their rush sport going: Skinner had a .897 save proportion on pictures off the frenzy coming into the sport. Edmonton is taking part in with a champion’s confidence. Dallas has to discover a option to inject just a little doubt into its opponent or this collection goes to finish shortly. — Wyshynski
