The Edmonton Oilers have secured their place in the Stanley Cup Final for the second consecutive season, eliminating the Dallas Stars with a decisive 6-3 victory in Game 5. This win mirrors last season`s Western Conference Final outcome where Edmonton also defeated Dallas.
The Oilers wasted no time asserting their dominance in Game 5, chasing Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger just over seven minutes into the game after scoring two goals on only two shots (Corey Perry and Mattias Janmark). Edmonton finished the first period with a 3-1 lead. For the remainder of the game, the Oilers` offense effectively countered every goal scored by Dallas, stifling any potential momentum shift. Crucially, Edmonton`s defense was particularly effective in the third period, shutting down their opponent.
Edmonton now faces a rematch against the Florida Panthers, the team that defeated them in the previous Final. Last year`s series saw the Panthers win three straight games before the Oilers rallied to force a Game 7, ultimately falling short. This back-to-back Final matchup between the same two teams is a rare occurrence in the expansion era (since 1967-68), having last happened in 2008-2009 (Detroit Red Wings vs. Pittsburgh Penguins) and before that in 1977-1978 (Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins).
Compared to last season, this version of the Oilers appears significantly improved, showing enhanced defensive capabilities and greater playoff confidence. Florida will undoubtedly face a tougher challenge this time around.
- Edmonton Oilers Grade: B+
- Dallas Stars Grade: C-
- Three Stars of Game 5
- 1. The “Hope Killer” Oilers
- 2. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl (Oilers C)
- 3. Jeff Skinner (Oilers F)
- Big Questions
- How will Zach Hyman`s absence impact Edmonton in the Stanley Cup Final against Florida?
- Is this the end for Pete DeBoer in Dallas?
Edmonton Oilers Grade: B+
The Oilers demonstrated immediate impact in Game 5, scoring on their first shot via Corey Perry on the power play, followed quickly by goals from Mattias Janmark and Jeff Skinner (his first career playoff goal), establishing a dominant 3-0 lead early on. This strong start highlighted the team`s impressive depth, especially playing without key forward Zach Hyman.
However, Dallas didn`t surrender easily. A turnover led to a Jason Robertson goal, reducing the lead to 3-1. While Edmonton`s penalty kill performed well overall, a Mattias Ekholm penalty resulted in a Roope Hintz goal, bringing Dallas within one. From that point, the Oilers adopted a `call-and-response` strategy. Connor McDavid scored on a breakaway just over two minutes after Hintz`s goal, and when Robertson scored again early in the third to make it 4-3, Evander Kane quickly restored the two-goal cushion. Although potentially not their most flawless performance, the Oilers` consistent ability to recover from setbacks and deliver timely responses proved their formidable nature since their Game 1 loss, demonstrating they were not to be denied.
Dallas Stars Grade: C-
The Stars` opening to Game 5 was poor, meriting an `F`. Their ongoing struggle to score first was compounded immediately when rookie Mavrik Bourque took an early penalty, resulting in Corey Perry`s power-play goal. Just minutes later, Mattias Janmark`s partial breakaway goal ended goaltender Jake Oettinger`s night after facing only two shots – a desperate move by head coach Pete DeBoer. This didn`t prevent Jeff Skinner from scoring against backup Casey DeSmith shortly after, putting Dallas in a deep 3-0 hole.
This early deficit was the critical misstep, symptomatic of the series where the Stars would show flashes of positive play but frequently surrender momentum right back. Roope Hintz`s goal was answered almost immediately by Connor McDavid. Jason Robertson`s second goal was countered by Evander Kane`s goal off Esa Lindell. Despite overcoming significant playoff obstacles earlier in their run, including eliminating strong Colorado and Winnipeg teams, the Stars consistently came up short.
A charitable perspective might attribute the loss to poor puck luck against a strong Oilers defense and the standout performance of Stuart Skinner, particularly in the third period. A more critical view would highlight that Dallas`s star players were outplayed, their supporting cast lacked impact, and Oettinger was unable to match Skinner`s performance. Both interpretations lead to the same outcome: elimination one round short of the Stanley Cup Final for the third consecutive year under Coach DeBoer, despite a talented roster. The franchise`s future decisions following this outcome will be noteworthy.
Three Stars of Game 5
1. The “Hope Killer” Oilers
Edmonton`s defining characteristic in Game 5 was their uncanny ability to crush any momentum Dallas tried to build. From their swift 3-0 lead to their quick responses after Stars goals by Connor McDavid and Evander Kane, the Oilers consistently shut the door on Dallas`s comeback attempts.
2. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl (Oilers C)
Both Oilers centers contributed two points in the series-clinching victory. They now each have three career playoff runs with 25 or more points, tying them for fourth all-time in NHL history, behind only legendary figures Mark Messier (6), Wayne Gretzky (6), and Jari Kurri (5).
3. Jeff Skinner (Oilers F)
Playing in only his second career playoff game (filling in for the injured Zach Hyman), Jeff Skinner scored his first career postseason goal to make the score 3-0 in the first period. This significant milestone occurred after playing over 1000 regular-season games before finally making his playoff debut.
Big Questions
How will Zach Hyman`s absence impact Edmonton in the Stanley Cup Final against Florida?
Zach Hyman`s unavailability is a significant factor, particularly when facing the physically demanding Florida Panthers. Hyman leads all playoff players in hits and is a crucial, productive forward, contributing on special teams and often playing alongside Connor McDavid. While the Oilers managed effectively without him in Game 5, his unique skills are particularly well-suited for a Final series against Florida. He was productive in last year`s Final and even more so this postseason. Coach Kris Knoblauch`s lineup adjustments, such as inserting Jeff Skinner for Game 5, worked for that specific game, but finding the optimal configuration to counter the Panthers` distinct style will be critical to Edmonton`s success.
Is this the end for Pete DeBoer in Dallas?
Pete DeBoer, reportedly in his third season of a four-year contract signed in 2022, has consistently led the Stars to the Western Conference Final in each of those seasons. However, a recurring point of criticism throughout his coaching career is his inability to win the final series. He previously reached the Stanley Cup Final with the New Jersey Devils (2012) and San Jose Sharks (2016) but lost both times, and has now lost in the Western Conference Final six times in the last eight years (since 2018-19).
While his regular-season success and consistent Conference Final appearances are undeniable, the team hasn`t reached the ultimate goal under his guidance. DeBoer`s strategic decisions, including the debated early removal of Jake Oettinger in Game 5, are under scrutiny. The central question for GM Jim Nill is whether a change in coaching leadership could push the team over the final hurdle, or if the best approach is to continue with DeBoer while making roster adjustments.
