The Edmonton Oilers responded the way championship-calibre teams do, by putting together a complete, disciplined, and determined 60-minute effort. After letting Game 1 slip away in a third-period collapse, the Oilers showed no such weakness in Game 2, shutting out the Dallas Stars 3-0 on the road to even the Western Conference Final at one game apiece.
This was a game defined by structure, special teams, and stellar goaltending. The Oilers struck early, locked things down defensively, and never looked back.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins opened the scoring just over five minutes into the first period, redirecting home a point shot from Evan Bouchard on the power play. Leon Draisaitl earned the secondary assist, marking his 14th of the postseason, and giving Edmonton the early 1-0 lead they were unable to hold in Game 1.
This time, the Oilers never let go of the momentum.
Brett Kulak doubled the lead in the second period with a solid second effort after his first shot was blocked after a feed from Connor McDavid. The goal marked Kulak’s first of the playoffs and was a reward for the Oilers’ steady forechecking and neutral zone control.
Less than 90 seconds later, Connor Brown tipped home his fifth of the playoffs to make it 3-0 Edmonton. The play started with Nugent-Hopkins finding Brown in front of the net after a solid zone entry. Jake Walman also picked up an assist on the goal, his second point of the postseason.
From there, it was the Stuart Skinner show.
The Oilers’ netminder delivered one of his best performances of the playoffs, stopping all 31 shots he faced, including several high-danger chances in the second and third periods. Skinner was dialled in, especially during a sequence in the third where he robbed the Lindell, who had a wide-open net. His positioning was perfect all night, earning him his first career playoff shutout and second star of the game honors.
Evan Bouchard continued his strong postseason with two assists, while Nugent-Hopkins was named the game’s first star after posting a goal and an assist.
Edmonton also did a better job staying out of the box, taking fewer penalties and killing off the ones they did take without much issue. After Dallas scored three power-play goals in the third period of Game 1, the Oilers shut the door completely in Game 2.
With the series now tied 1-1, the Oilers will return home to Rogers Place with a chance to seize control. If they can replicate the structure and discipline they showed tonight, they’ll be in a great position to make this a long series, and maybe even a winning one.