The Edmonton Oilers are one win away from a return trip to the Stanley Cup Final.
The Oilers defeated the Dallas Stars, 4-1, on Tuesday night to take a 3-1 series lead in the Western Conference finals.
Dallas had a strong first period, outshooting the Oilers 16-10, but the Stars couldn’t get a shot past Edmonton goaltender Stuart Skinner and found themselves down 1-0 thanks to a Leon Draisaitl power-play goal.
From there, the Oilers started to put the clamps on.
The second period was much more even, with the Oilers putting up 10 shots to the Stars’ nine. Dallas tied the game at 6:57 of the second on a Jason Robertson power-play goal but the Oilers got another power-play goal a little over two minutes later to take the lead for good.
That 2-1 lead held up because Edmonton put on a defensive masterclass in the third period.
The Oilers held the Stars to just four shots while putting up 13 themselves in the final frame. Edmonton couldn’t beat Jake Oettinger (30 saves) again, but it finally sealed the game with two empty-net tallies.
Skinner stopped 28 of the 29 shots he faced.
Game 5 is Thursday night in Dallas (8 p.m. ET, ESPN).
“They’re going to be desperate, we know that, but we got to obviously match that,’ Draisaitl told ESPN, looking ahead to Game 5.
Stars vs. Oilers highlights
Final: Oilers 4, Stars 1
Another empty-net goal for the Oilers at 19:10, this one from long range from Adam Henrique.
Score update: Oilers 3, Stars 1
That should do it.
Kasperi Kapanen’s empty-net goal gives the Oilers a two-goal lead with just over two minutes to go.
Score update: Oilers 2, Stars 1
Some redemption for Corey Perry.
His penalty led to Dallas’ equalizing goal, but he gives the Oilers the lead again with yet another power-play strike at 9:20.
Score update: Stars 1, Oilers 1
Jason Robertson gets the Stars on the board with their 21st shot of the game.
His power-play goal at 6:57 levels things after the Oilers killed off the Stars’ first two power-play opportunities.
Zach Hyman injury update: Oilers forward out for rest of Game 4
Edmonton will be down a key forward for the final two periods of Game 4.
Zach Hyman went to the locker room in the first period and never returned following a check from Mason Marchment.
End of first period: Oilers 1, Stars 0
Dallas didn’t score in the first period and Stuart Skinner is mostly to thank for that. The Stars peppered the Oilers’ goalie with 17 shots but he stopped them all.
The Stars will have nearly a full power play to work with on fresh ice to start the second period after Vasily Podkolzin was called for roughing at 19:52.
Score update: Oilers 1, Stars 0
Edmonton is on the board first, courtesy of a Leon Draisaitl power-play goal.
The Rocket Richard winner potted his seventh goal of the playoffs in signature fashion: with a one-timer from the right faceoff circle. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Corey Perry got the assists on the goal at 11:23 of the first.
What time is Edmonton Oilers vs. Dallas Stars Game 4?
Game 4 of the Stars-Oilers series is Tuesday, May 27 at 8 p.m. ET in Edmonton, Alberta.
How to watch Stars vs. Oilers NHL playoff game: TV, stream
Time: 8 p.m. ET/6 p.m. local
Location: Rogers Place (Edmonton, Alberta)
TV: ESPN
Stream: ESPN+, Fubo
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