2025 NHL playoffs: Preview for Stars-Oilers Game 5

The Dallas Stars face a critical juncture in the Western Conference finals. Many teams claim to thrive when facing elimination – we are about to discover if that holds true for the Stars.

Holding a commanding 3-1 lead in the series, the Edmonton Oilers head into Game 5 on Thursday night with an opportunity to advance.

The pivotal question is whether Dallas can push the series back to Alberta for Game 6 on Saturday, or if Edmonton will close out the series and secure a spot in the Stanley Cup Final, potentially meeting the Florida Panthers for the second consecutive year.

Below are some key insights and statistical notes concerning this matchup:

Matchup Notes

Dallas Stars at Edmonton Oilers
Game 5

Following their Game 4 victory, the Oilers are now heavily favored to win the Western Conference finals with odds of -1200, a significant jump from -375. Conversely, the Stars` odds to stage a comeback have lengthened from +280 to +600. Looking at the Stanley Cup Final, Edmonton is currently favored at +110, while Dallas sits at +1400. Connor McDavid leads the odds for the Conn Smythe Trophy at +130, with Leon Draisaitl (+650) being the only other player from this series listed below 10-1.

Edmonton has been formidable at home this postseason, posting a 6-1 record and outscoring opponents 33-17. Historically, the Oilers have an impressive 17-1 record in best-of-seven series when holding a 3-1 lead. Their sole loss in such a scenario came in the 1989 division semifinals against the Los Angeles Kings.

Dallas has encountered difficulties on the road, particularly in the opening period, where they have been outscored 10-0 across eight road playoff games this year – a unique historical low in Stanley Cup playoff history. The Stars also face a challenging historical precedent when trailing 3-1 in a best-of-seven series, having lost all 16 previous instances.

Leon Draisaitl made a significant impact in Game 4 with a power-play goal and an assist. His goal marked his 13th career playoff game-opening goal, tying Wayne Gretzky and Glenn Anderson for the most in Oilers franchise history. It was also his 20th career playoff power-play goal, ranking fourth all-time for the Oilers behind Gretzky (23), Jari Kurri (22), and Anderson (22).

Connor McDavid continues his consistent offensive output. With another multi-point performance, he now has more career playoff games with two or more points (45) than games with one or zero points combined (44).

Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner has hit his stride, winning five of his last six starts. His 24th career playoff victory moved him into third place on the franchise`s all-time playoff wins list for goalies, surpassing Andy Moog. He trails only Bill Ranford (25) and Grant Fuhr (74).

For the Stars, Jason Robertson netted a power-play goal in the recent game. His seven power-play goals over the last four postseasons are the most by any Stars player during that span.

Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger is on the verge of reaching a historical mark. His next playoff win will move him higher on the leaderboard for playoff victories by a U.S.-born netminder. He is currently tied for fourth place with Jon Casey and Frank Brimsek at 32 wins, behind Tom Barrasso (61), Jonathan Quick (49), and Mike Richter (41).

Scoring Leaders