To maintain that the Edmonton Oilers are rolling along would be an understatement.
The Oilers are one win away from a second consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Final after claiming a 4-1 home-ice victory over the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.
Edmonton has won three consecutive clashes in the Western Conference finals by a combined 13-2 score to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Game 5 will be Thursday in Dallas.
“Even though it’s 3-1, we have a lot of work to do here,” said Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner, who made 28 saves in the victory. “And we know for a fact they’re at home and they’re going to be giving a really big push. We’re going to be ready.”
Corey Perry and Leon Draisaitl each collected one goal and one assist for Edmonton. Kasperi Kapanen and Adam Henrique added empty-net goals and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins produced his fourth consecutive multi-point game with a pair of assists. Connor McDavid also had two assists.
Edmonton has the opportunity to eliminate the Stars in the third round of the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
“We’re going to Dallas to have the chance to move on the Stanley Cup Final,” Draisaitl said. “If that doesn’t get you excited, I’m not sure what will.”
Jason Robertson scored and goalie Jake Oettinger stopped 29 of 31 shots for the Stars, who were eliminated in the conference finals each of the past two years.
Dallas certainly had its chances in this clash by controlling the bulk of the play through two periods, but the visitors could not pull ahead.
“It felt a little bit like last year in Game 6; we did everything but put the pill in the net,” Stars forward Tyler Seguin said. “Fortunately we have an opportunity where we can come back. Maybe we deserve a little bit better, but the playoffs doesn’t care what you deserve. You’ve got to force the bounces and make the bounces happen by working.”
Perry broke a 1-1 tie midway through the second period when he set up on the doorstep and redirected Nugent-Hopkins’ pass for the third power-play goal of the game and his sixth tally of the postseason.
Draisaitl opened the scoring at 11:23 of the first period with the game’s first power-play goal, the seventh consecutive game the Oilers had opened the scoring. Edmonton won five of those contests.
“Same story. Just can’t get that lead,” Dallas coach Peter DeBoer said. “I loved our first period — other than we missed the net too much … but to play a period like that and not get even or up, is a tough spot.”
Robertson’s man-advantage marker at 6:57 of the second period, his second tally in as many games, tied the clash.
“It’s time to reset again. It’s no over until someone wins four games,” Dallas forward Mikko Rantanen said. “So we go home to home ice and it’s one game at a time. … Don’t think about the series, win one game and try to come back to Alberta.”
Edmonton’s victory came with a cost. Oilers forward Zach Hyman left the game in the first period after being on the receiving end of a hit from Stars forward Mason Marchment. Coach Kris Knoblauch said he will provide an update on Wednesday on Hyman’s condition.
The Oilers also were without forward Connor Brown because of an undisclosed injury.
Dallas forward Roope Hintz returned to the lineup after missing the previous game due to a foot injury.
–Field Level Media
