Good morning, Oil Country.
Go ahead and pour that second cup of coffee, you’ve earned it. The Edmonton Oilers are Western Conference champions again.
In what was arguably their most complete performance of the postseason, the Oilers stomped into American Airlines Center and walked out with a dominant 6-3 win over the Dallas Stars in Game 5 to punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight year.
This team has battled through injuries, doubters, slumps, and everything in between. But last night? It was all business. Connor McDavid played like a man possessed, the depth guys did their part, and Edmonton silenced the Stars early and often.
Scoring Early and Often
Corey Perry kicked things off just 2:31 into the game with a power-play goal that silenced the Dallas crowd. The veteran continues to show his value in the moments that matter most. Mattias Janmark followed it up with a breakaway beauty against his former team, and before the Stars could blink, Jeff Skinner scored his first of the postseason to make it 3-0.
Two goals on two shots. Oettinger yanked. DeSmith in. Oilers rolling.
Sure, the Stars pushed back. Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz chipped away at the lead, but every time the momentum shifted, Edmonton had the answer. And when things got tight at 3-2, it was McDavid time.
Captain Clutch and the Kane Dagger
McDavid picked up an area pass from Mattias Ekholm, battled the Staras dman, and buried his sixth of the playoffs to make it 4-2. In a building that had just come alive, he shut it right back down.
Early in the third, after Robertson made it 4-3, Evander Kane put a dagger through Dallas hearts, sneaking one past DeSmith from a ridiculous angle. Kasperi Kapanen would seal it with the empty-netter.
Final: 6-3. Series: 4-1. Flight: booked to Florida.
All Hands on Deck
This wasn’t just about the stars. Perry, Janmark, Skinner, and Kane each scored. Draisaitl quietly picked up two more assists. Jeff Walman logged heavy minutes and added a pair of helpers from the back end. Even Stuart Skinner, who only faced 17 shots, stood tall when he had to.
Next Up: A Familiar Foe
Cue the revenge tour.
The Florida Panthers await. The same Panthers who stole Game 7 on our ice last June. You can bet the Oilers remember.
Game 1 goes Wednesday down at Rogers Place Let the countdown to redemption begin.