The Edmonton Oilers are headed back to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2006.
Connor McDavid had a goal and an assist as the Oilers punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup final with a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Sunday, winning the best-of-seven Western Conference final in six games.
Zach Hyman also scored and Evan Bouchard had a pair of assists for the Oilers, who will face the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup championship series — marking Edmonton’s first appearance in a Cup final since 2006, when it fell in Game 7 to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Stuart Skinner made 34 saves for the win, giving him a 4-0 record in potential series-clinching games in his career.
Mason Marchment replied for the Stars who lost out in the conference final for the second consecutive season. Dallas outshot Edmonton 35-10 in the game.
The Oilers sent their first shot of the game past Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger on the power play 4:17 into the first period, and it was a beauty. McDavid did a toe drag and stepped inside a pair of defenders before sending a backhand into the net for his fifth goal of the post-season. Defenceman Bouchard picked up his 20th assist of the playoffs on the goal.
The Oilers power play struck for the fourth time in its last five attempts after failing to get a goal in the first four games. With 4:18 remaining in the opening frame, McDavid dropped a pass back to Hyman in an open lane and he picked the top corner for his playoff-leading 14th goal.
The Stars came close to getting one past Edmonton starter Skinner when Roope Hintz hit a post with eight minutes to play in the second period. Dallas outshot the Oilers 21-8 through 40 minutes.
Dallas made it a one-goal game with 10:42 to play in the third period as Tyler Seguin was able to send a pass from behind the net out front to Marchment, who notched his third goal of the post-season.
The Stars threw everything they had at the Oilers in a furious final 10 minutes, but Edmonton was somehow able to hang on.
Edmonton went 16:13 between shots on goals in the second and third periods.
NOTES
Dallas inserted AHL scoring leader Mavrik Bourque in place of fellow forward Ty Dellandrea. It was just Bourque’s second game, having made his NHL debut on April 6. … Edmonton also flipped a pair of forwards as Derek Ryan subbed in for Sam Carrick. … McDavid became just the sixth player in NHL history to hit 30 points in more than one playoffs. Preceding him to the feat were Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Mario Lemieux and Nikita Kucherov. … Edmonton sat in 31st out of 32 teams in the NHL standings in November with a 3-9-1 record and fired head coach Jay Woodcroft. They then went 46-18-5 the rest of the way under new coach Kris Knoblauch. … Dallas forward Joe Pavelski played in his 33rd potential elimination game. Only four skaters in NHL history have played in more.
UP NEXT
Edmonton will now enjoy five days off before they head to Florida to take on the Panthers in Game 1 on Saturday. All games can be seen on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
In a thrilling matchup between the Edmonton Oilers and the Dallas Stars, the Oilers emerged victorious, securing their spot in the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers. The Oilers put on a dominant performance, showcasing their skill and determination throughout the series.
The Oilers got off to a strong start in Game 1, with Connor McDavid leading the charge with a hat trick to secure a 4-2 victory over the Stars. The team continued their winning ways in Game 2, with Leon Draisaitl scoring the game-winning goal in overtime to give the Oilers a 3-2 win.
Game 3 proved to be a tougher challenge for the Oilers, as the Stars fought back with a strong defensive effort. However, the Oilers managed to pull off a 2-1 victory, thanks to a stellar performance from goaltender Mike Smith.
In Game 4, the Oilers sealed the deal with a convincing 5-1 win, with goals from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Darnell Nurse. The team’s depth and resilience were on full display, as they overcame adversity and secured their spot in the Stanley Cup Final.
The Oilers will now face off against the Florida Panthers in what promises to be an exciting series. Both teams have had impressive playoff runs, and fans can expect a hard-fought battle for the coveted Stanley Cup.
As the Oilers prepare for the final showdown, they will look to their star players like McDavid and Draisaitl to lead the way. With a combination of skill, speed, and determination, the Oilers have what it takes to bring home the championship.
Overall, the Edmonton Oilers’ victory over the Dallas Stars was a testament to their talent and teamwork. As they gear up for the Stanley Cup Final, fans can expect an intense and thrilling series that will showcase the best of what hockey has to offer.