May 27th, 2025, 11:25pm
It might sound strange, so Game 4 confirmed that three are magic numbers. A 4-1 victory on Tuesday led the Edmonton Oilers to win three straight times, earning a 3-1 series advantage in the Western Conference Finals.
Suffering from his current third loss means the Dallas star is off the end of the season, becoming the first team to reach the conference finals three times in a row since the NHL moved to the current format in 1994.
Ryan S. Clark and Greg Wysinski look back at what happened in Game 4, and how players who could affect Game 5 in both franchises can ask the key questions facing the Oilers and the Stars before Thursday.
Corey Perry scored the Oilers’ second goal in Game 4. StephChambers/Getty Images
Warning: The following commentary will sound like a broken record when it comes to the Edmonton Oilers. We recommend the discretion of the reader.
Editor’s Pick
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As we went through fine printing, the Oilers did what they have in Game 4, since Chris Noblauch arrived in November 2023. They found a way to adjust. Also. Giving up a one-period shot of 16, the Oilers made the necessary adjustments, and that number waned to 9 shots second, moving on over 11 minutes before the star scored a second shot in goal. They allowed two Heidanger chances in 5-5 plays over the last two periods without Zach Heymann, who was ruled out after a first-term hit at Mason Marchment.
In addition to these adjustments, the Oilers received contributions from everyone. Leon Draysightle won the opener with Corey Perry winning the final game, while Ryan Nugent Hopkins was in control with two assists. After that, the empty net goals of Kasperi Kapanen and Adam Henrique came to close the game. Like what they did in Game 3, the Oilers discovered that the balance they saw rely on Stuart Skinner to make the necessary saves offered stronger support throughout the course of the game. – Ryan S. Clark
Good news first: The Dallas star had a great first period, earning 16 shots, 74% of shot attempts and 12 scoring chances than the Oilers. Now, bad news: it didn’t lead to the Stars scoring the first goal of the game, they haven’t made this series yet, and Draysightle’s power play goal went 1-0 holes after 20 minutes. Key phrase: “Power play.” The Oilers were 2-3 against a penalty kill unit that abandoned at least one target with a man’s advantage in all games in the series.
That’s all they needed against the Dallas attack, which Edmonton skillfully defended in front of Skinner. How clever? The Dallas star went between the second and third seasons for about 30 minutes without attempts at Heidanger Shot. Dallas scored four shots in goal in the third term. Their season is on the line! The suppression of Dallas’ attacks – partly by the Oilers and Skinner – partly because the series has so many passengers on the stars – is why it has faced elimination after Game 4 over the past two periods.
Game 4 3 stars
With goals and assists, Perry has scored two points for the 40+ years of age and over 15 minutes on the ice in the playoffs since Jaromir Jagr in 2013 for the Bruins against the Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup final.
Another victory with one or fewer goals scored against this postseason. Skinner scored 28 of 29 saves, with the only goal being Jason Robertson’s top shelf snipe, perfect on the power play.
Mark Messier on the Point is probably the best special team player in the NHL (penalty kills and power plays), and he showed it in particular in Game 4 with Man Advantage. -ArdaÖcal
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Leon Draisaitl opens up the Oilers’ score
Leon Draisaitl hits a one-timer on the net of the power play as the Oilers grab a 1-0 lead.
Players in Game 5
There is still a possibility that the Oilers can have Highman in Game 5. If not, that will lead to Knoblauch making adjustments to replace what was the Oilers’ most physical player this postseason. Filling the Hayman gap could be a collective effort, like Game 4, given that Trent Frederick, Evander Kane, Vasily Podkolzin and Kapanen all ended with five hits. Perry, who also has the physical aspect of his game, offered the Oilers a winger that could play throughout the lineup. In Game 4, it was even more evident with a two-point performance. This was the best time that players in 39 seasons saw Jean Beliveau in the sixth goal in the playoffs. Whether it’s on line 4 or next to Conner McDavid and Draysightle, it offers the Oilers a combination of forwards featuring the Heart Trophy winner. – Clark
Dallas GM Jimnil said himself after getting the lantanen from the Carolina Hurricane.
Welcome. The star is one more step away from waking up and shaking his dreams of the Stanley Cup in the third consecutive season of conference finals. Considering the reason “it’s probably not this time,” Lantanen’s name was at the top of the list. Especially after his 18-point explosion in the course of seven games between the end of the Colorado series and the beginning of the Winnipeg series.
Rantanen has no goals since Game 3 against the Jets. He has two secondary sponsors in his final six playoff games. “valuable assets” are not accurately liable. He’s generating shots. He’s about to do it. But he wasn’t a different maker, just like the top Edmonton players have. Game 5 could be a more legacy game than Rantanen. It’s the same for Dallas. -Wyshynski
Big Questions about Game 5
Is it too close to the comfort and closing times for Game 5’s Oilers?
A full understanding of what this postseason has done by this Oilers iteration can be seen in many ways. But doing that means looking back at how last season ended in the Stanley Cup final. They know firsthand what it means to be able to find a little breathing room just to see them get life. But they also know that they are living that new proverb and can’t make the most of its benefits. Fast forward to this postseason. Second, they got the opening against the King of Los Angeles in the first round, they took care of the business. The moment they thought the Vegas Golden Knights had something, the Oilers made sure they didn’t score for the rest of the postseason. So what are they trying to do to the 5 stars? And will it be enough to send the Oilers back to the Stanley Cup final for their second consecutive season? – Clark
Is it as easy to score your first goal?
When it comes to hockey analysis, I really want to be brave. Owning the pack, expected goals, Heidanger’s chances, and the remaining flashy stats. The breakdown is pixels and explains them. What we don’t want to do is acknowledge the simplicity of playoff hockey. Because concepts like “First Goal Wins” are very Normie and not complicated. Even if that might be true.
The Carolina hurricanes faced elimination by scoring their first goal in Game 4. They took a breath and reached the game, and now the series returned to Raleigh, moving to 6-0 when Carolina scored first. Dallas is 3-0 in the postseason on their first score – perhaps the fact that it only happened three times is one of the reasons they played more games (17) than anyone else in the tournament.
The first score promises you nothing. After all, Dallas only had a .674 win percentage when scoring 17th in the regular season and 17th in the NHL. But achieving goals on the board against the Oilers will calm things down. It allows the stars to build on their game rather than dig desperately out of the hole. Most importantly, it can help plant a little doubt in the mind of the Oilers. It gives them a little worry. Because they are the most defiant team in the conference finals. He’s cool and confident, and has one win from another Stanley Cup final, unless the star flips the script quickly. Scoring first is one way to try it as easily as it sounds. -Wyshynski
