The Edmonton Oilers have made it to the Western Conference Finals for the second year in a row and they will once again have the same opponent as they did last year, the Dallas Stars. While there are a few major changes in the lineup for each team the majority will be the same, this doesn't mean that the outcome will be the same though. In my opinion, both of these teams are better than they were last year, and I expect this series to be very exciting to watch.
For the Oilers, there is no doubt that heading into this series that both Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid will need to carry quite a bit of the workload, but the Oilers have proven in the series against the Vegas Golden Knights that they can win without the big boys doing all the lifting though. In order to beat the Stars, they will need other players to step up and carry more than they have been asked to in the past. These are my three players that if they step up their game will make the Oilers series win much easier.
Stuart Skinner
For me, Stuart Skinner is the biggest factor in this series. After having a tough go in his first three games of the playoffs, he has turned his game around, posting back-to-back shutouts to clinch the series against the Vegas Golden Knights. Obviously, he is going to let in a goal in this series, but he needs to just be steady for the Oilers and provide a calming presence in net.
Against the Stars in the WCF Skinner played the best hockey we have seen him play since he became a full time NHLer. He was able to out dual Jake Oetinger. If he can do that again this year the Stars will be in big trouble.
On the opposite side of things, if Skinner struggles once again, there is currently no Calvin Pickard to bail out the Oilers like there was in the first round. If Skinner has a hiccup, then he will need to get his own game back unless either they want Olivier Rodrigue to play or Pickard is healthy by then, but from the sounds of things Pickard is hurt pretty bad.
The way the Oilers are playing defensively right now they have been limiting the high danger chances against and that has made the job easier for the goalies. In the games the Oilers have given up lots of chances against they, believe it or not, let in less goals.