Game 1 felt like it was there for the taking, until it wasn’t. The Edmonton Oilers stormed into Dallas and played 40 minutes of dominant hockey, but a disastrous third period flipped the script and handed the Stars a 6-3 comeback win. As the Oilers look to even the series tonight, they don’t need to reinvent the wheel, they just need to clean up a few critical areas. Here are three keys to an Edmonton win in Game 2.
1. Stay Out of the Box
It’s the most obvious adjustment, but also the most important. Edmonton’s unraveling in Game 1 was entirely self-inflicted. Three straight penalties to open the third gave the Stars everything they needed to claw back from a two-goal deficit and take over the game. Dallas has one of the most dangerous power plays left in the playoffs, and they made the Oilers pay, scoring three straight with the man advantage.
The solution is simple: don’t give them the chance. That means discipline across the board. No careless stick infractions, no retaliation penalties, and a smarter approach when protecting a lead. At 5-on-5, the Oilers were arguably the better team. Keep it that way by keeping it even.
2. Win the Goaltending Battle
Stuart Skinner wasn’t the reason the Oilers lost Game 1, but he wasn’t the difference-maker either. In the playoffs, the margin for error is razor-thin. A timely save can swing momentum, kill a surge, or keep a lead alive. Skinner made a few solid stops early, but once the dam started to break in the third, he couldn’t shut the door.
Meanwhile, Jake Oettinger was beatable. Edmonton scored three times on him and had chances to get more. If Skinner can outduel Oettinger tonight, or at least match him, the Oilers give themselves a much better shot at heading home with a 1-1 split.
3. Lean on the Stars, But Get Help from the Middle Six
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are doing what they always do, producing. Draisaitl leads the playoffs in scoring, and McDavid has been his usual electric self. But the Oilers will need more from the next wave. Nugent-Hopkins found the scoresheet in Game 1, but players like Evander Kane, Adam Henrique, and Corey Perry need to generate more offense and win board battles in the tough areas.
Secondary scoring often tilts playoff series. If the Oilers get meaningful contributions beyond their top line, they won’t just compete, they’ll win.
Game 2 is a gut check. The Oilers know they can skate with Dallas, they know they can score — now it’s about playing smart, staying sharp in goal, and getting the full lineup involved. If they check those boxes, they’ll head back to Edmonton with the series right where they want it.