The Edmonton Oilers have reached the Stanley Cup Final for the second consecutive season, eliminating the Dallas Stars with a decisive 6-3 victory in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final. This comes after they also defeated the Stars in six games in last year`s conference finals.
Edmonton got off to a blistering start in Game 5, chasing Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger just over seven minutes into the game after scoring two goals on the only two shots he faced. The Oilers held a 3-1 lead after the first period. Throughout the remainder of the game, Edmonton`s offense effectively countered every Dallas goal, preventing the Stars from building momentum, while their defense once again proved resilient in the third period.
The Oilers are now set for a rematch against the Florida Panthers, the team that defeated them in the Stanley Cup Final last year. The Panthers won the first three games of that series before the Oilers staged a rally to force a Game 7, ultimately falling short of winning the championship.
Meeting the same two teams in the Stanley Cup Final in consecutive seasons is a rare occurrence in the expansion era (since 1967-68), having happened only four times before. The most recent instance was in 2008 and 2009 between the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins. The last team to defeat the same opponent in the Final in back-to-back years was the Montreal Canadiens against the Boston Bruins in 1977 and 1978.
This year`s Oilers team appears significantly stronger, particularly in defensive capabilities and playoff composure, suggesting Florida will face a tougher challenge than last season.
Kristen Shilton and Greg Wyshynski offer their assessments of Game 5 and look ahead to what`s next for both franchises.
Edmonton Oilers
Grade: B+
The Oilers wasted no time asserting themselves in Game 5, scoring on their very first shot just under three minutes in, a power-play goal by Corey Perry. Mattias Janmark quickly doubled the lead, taking advantage of a Stars line change error. Jeff Skinner, making his first career playoff start, scored on the newly inserted goalie Casey DeSmith to make it 3-0. It was a wild opening.
Even without leading scorer Zach Hyman in the lineup, the Oilers didn`t miss a beat early, showcasing impressive depth. However, the Stars didn`t surrender easily. A turnover led to Jason Robertson scoring for Dallas, cutting the lead to 3-1. Edmonton`s penalty kill faced pressure in the second period; while they successfully killed one penalty, a second led to Roope Hintz scoring to bring Dallas within one goal.
From that point, the game became a back-and-forth affair. Connor McDavid quickly responded to Hintz`s goal with a breakaway score of his own just over two minutes later. When Robertson scored again early in the third period to make it 4-3, Evander Kane restored the two-goal cushion just over two minutes later by banking a puck off Esa Lindell.
The Oilers may not have played their absolute best game of the series, but their ability to recover from mistakes and immediately answer Dallas`s scoring attempts demonstrated why they`ve been so formidable since losing Game 1. The Stars` strong start in the first game seemed to ignite something in Edmonton, and they were relentless afterward. — Analysis by Shilton
Dallas Stars
Grade: C-
Dallas earned an `F` for their start, failing to score first in any game of the series. Doing so in Game 5 would have provided much-needed relief. Instead, rookie Mavrik Bourque took an early penalty, leading to an Oilers power-play goal. Five minutes later, with the team struggling, Jake Oettinger was beaten by Janmark and pulled after allowing two goals on two shots only 7:09 into the game. It was a desperate move by coach Pete DeBoer. The Oilers then quickly scored on backup Casey DeSmith to make it 3-0.
Regardless of what happened subsequently, this poor start was the defining factor for Dallas in Game 5 and reflected a trend throughout the series: the Stars would create opportunities but frequently give up momentum immediately afterward. Hintz scored to make it 3-2, only for McDavid to score just over two minutes later. Robertson, who was brilliant, scored his second to make it 4-3, and less than three minutes later, Kane scored to re-establish the two-goal lead.
The Stars overcame significant challenges to reach the Western Conference Final for a third straight year under DeBoer. They beat the Avalanche in seven games despite injuries to key players and eliminated the Presidents` Trophy-winning Jets in six. One perspective is that Dallas played well enough to win more games but was thwarted by poor puck luck and an outstanding defensive effort from Edmonton, particularly in front of goaltender Stuart Skinner (and the Oilers` strong third-period play).
A more critical view is that Dallas`s star players were outshone by Edmonton`s, their supporting cast was less effective, and Oettinger was outperformed by Skinner, leading to his early exit. Both perspectives lead to the same conclusion: the Stars fell short of the Stanley Cup Final for the third consecutive year under DeBoer, despite having arguably their most talented roster in this period. The team`s response to this outcome will be intriguing. — Analysis by Wyshynski
Three Stars of Game 5
1. The `Hope Killer` Oilers: Edmonton`s explosive start, taking a 3-0 lead, was crucial. Furthermore, whenever Dallas managed to close the gap to a single goal, the Oilers immediately responded with a goal of their own (McDavid after Hintz made it 3-2, Kane after Robertson made it 4-3). This ability to instantly regain control effectively dashed the Stars` comeback hopes.
2. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl (Oilers Forwards): Both offensive leaders recorded two points in the win that clinched the series. They have now each achieved three postseasons with 25 or more points, tying them for fourth all-time in NHL history, trailing only legendary figures like Mark Messier, Wayne Gretzky, and Jari Kurri.
3. Jeff Skinner (Oilers Forward): Game 5 was only Skinner`s second career playoff game, inserted into the lineup due to Zach Hyman`s absence. He is the only player in NHL history to play over 1,000 regular-season games before making his postseason debut. Scoring his first career playoff goal to extend Edmonton`s lead to 3-0 in the first period was a memorable moment. — Analysis by Arda Öcal
Key Questions Ahead
How will Zach Hyman`s absence impact Edmonton in the Final against Florida? The Panthers are known for their physical style of play. Hyman is a key forward for the Oilers, leading them in hits this postseason and providing significant contributions offensively and on both special teams units. While the Oilers won Game 5 without him, facing Florida presents a different challenge. Hyman was effective in last year`s Final and even more productive this playoff run. The Oilers will need to find the right player to step up in his role and adjust their strategy, as Hyman`s specific skills would have been particularly valuable against the Panthers` style. This adjustment will be crucial for Edmonton`s aspirations to achieve a different result this year. — Analysis by Shilton
What does the future hold for coach Pete DeBoer in Dallas? Hired in 2022, reportedly on a four-year contract, DeBoer has guided the Stars to three consecutive appearances in the Western Conference Final. However, he has a history of reaching the Stanley Cup Final (with New Jersey and San Jose) but not winning, and his teams have now lost in the conference finals six times in the last eight seasons. Despite strong regular-season performance and consistent deep playoff runs with Dallas, the team has not managed to reach the final under his leadership. His decision to pull Oettinger early in Game 5 is also a point of discussion. General Manager Jim Nill faces a significant decision: whether DeBoer is the coach capable of taking the team the final step, or if a change, potentially alongside roster adjustments, is necessary to break through. — Analysis by Wyshynski
