After a brutal third-period collapse in Game 1, you’d be forgiven for thinking the Edmonton Oilers had blown their best chance to steal home ice from the Dallas Stars. They were in full control through two periods, up 3-1 and dictating play. Then came the parade to the penalty box, and a Dallas team more than capable of taking advantage.
Yet as Oil Country wakes up this morning, the series is far from over. In fact, a shot to steal home ice is still very much alive.
Let’s start with the reality, the Oilers were the better team for 40 minutes. They outskated the Stars, won battles along the boards, and buried chances at key moments. Leon Draisaitl continued his elite postseason performance, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins found the back of the net on the power play, and Evan Bouchard showed once again why he’s emerging as a top-tier offensive defenceman.
It wasn’t until the penalties started piling up that things unraveled, and it happened fast. The Stars’ power play unit, clicking at a lethal pace, didn’t waste a second. Edmonton's 3-1 lead evaporated in less than five minutes. Three consecutive penalties, three straight power play goals against, and all the momentum was gone.
But here’s the thing, as painful as it was, Game 1 doesn’t define this series. It exposed flaws, discipline, penalty killing under pressure, composure in the face of adversity, but it also showed that the Oilers can beat the Stars in Dallas. In fact, they probably should have.
That’s the critical point heading into Game 2. The opportunity is still right there. One strong response, one road win, and suddenly the series shifts back to Edmonton with the Oilers in control. Game 1 was a loss, but it also served as a statement: the Oilers are in this fight.
The response tonight will say everything about this team. Can Stuart Skinner bounce back? Will the Oilers’ stars stay out of the box and keep their foot on the gas? Can the penalty kill tighten up and support a group that, at 5-on-5, looked better than Dallas?
The series isn’t slipping. Not yet. But Game 2 is a fork in the road. Either the Oilers punch back and seize the momentum they earned for two periods in Game 1 — or they let the collapse linger.
Home ice is still there for the taking. All Edmonton has to do is go out and earn it.