After eliminating the Vegas Golden Knights earlier this week, the Edmonton Oilers have had the chance to rest, reset, and get ready for what’s sure to be a fierce battle. The Stars needed six games to dispatch the Jets, with a thrilling OT goal in Game 6 putting the series away. That sets up a rematch of last year’s Western Conference Final, where the Oilers came out on top in six games. Edmonton will be hoping for a similar outcome this time around as they look to return to the Stanley Cup Final for the second year in a row.
Game 1 of the Western Conference Final will take place on Wednesday, May 21 at 6:00 p.m. MT in Dallas. The Oilers will look to steal an early game on the road to take control of the series.
The road to the Conference Final hasn’t been easy for either team. The Dallas Stars opened the playoffs with a grueling seven-game series against the Colorado Avalanche. That back-and-forth battle tested Dallas both physically and mentally, but they showed resilience to come through. Then, against Winnipeg, they again showed their ability to win close games and manage pressure, with Jake Oettinger standing tall in net and players like Roope Hintz and Mikko Rantanen contributing timely goals.
The Oilers, meanwhile, seem to be peaking at the perfect time. After dropping the first two games to the Los Angeles Kings in Round 1, questions began to swirl around the team’s consistency and goaltending. But Edmonton responded with authority, rattling off four straight wins to take the series in six games. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, as expected, led the way offensively, while the supporting cast—like Evander Kane and Evan Bouchard—chipped in when needed.
In Round 2, the Oilers took on the Pacific Division-winning Vegas Golden Knights and dispatched them with surprising ease. Stuart Skinner, who had faced criticism earlier in the playoffs, turned things around in a big way. He finished the series with back-to-back shutouts, giving Edmonton a massive confidence boost heading into the Conference Final.
Now, two heavyweights meet again. The Oilers boast arguably the league’s most dangerous offensive weapons, while the Stars bring a more balanced attack and a goaltender capable of stealing games. With both teams having playoff experience, skill, and motivation, this series has all the makings of a classic.
Puck drop is set—Wednesday can’t come soon enough.