In Game 1 of the Western Conference Final, the Stars defeated the Oilers 6-3 after scoring five goals in a row in the third period.

In a game that looked like it was slipping away from them early, the Dallas Stars orchestrated a jaw-dropping third-period comeback to defeat the Edmonton Oilers 6-3 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final. What began as a tightly contested showdown between two of the NHL’s most electric teams quickly turned into a one-sided onslaught, with the Stars scoring five unanswered goals in the final frame to take a 1-0 series lead.

For nearly two periods, Edmonton looked poised to steal home ice. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl—widely considered the best one-two punch in the NHL—delivered an early spark, showcasing the offensive firepower that carried the Oilers past Los Angeles and Vancouver in earlier rounds. But hockey, especially in the playoffs, is a game of momentum. And when the tide turned in the third, the Oilers had no answers.

The first period saw both teams feeling each other out. There was no shortage of speed, physicality, or chances, but both goaltenders held firm. Stuart Skinner, who has had his share of ups and downs this postseason, looked sharp early for Edmonton, turning aside all 12 shots he faced in the opening frame. At the other end, Jake Oettinger kept the Stars afloat with a number of timely stops, including a highlight-reel glove save on McDavid midway through the period.

Edmonton broke through first. Just two minutes into the second period, Draisaitl found Zach Hyman on a slick cross-ice feed. Hyman, who leads the NHL in postseason goals, made no mistake, ripping a one-timer past Oettinger to give the Oilers a 1-0 lead. Five minutes later, Draisaitl struck again—this time himself—capitalizing on a Stars turnover and finishing a backhand shot for his 10th goal of the playoffs.

The Stars responded shortly thereafter with a power-play goal from Jason Robertson, trimming the deficit to 2-1. But before the period could end, Edmonton restored its two-goal cushion on a rocket from Evan Bouchard at the point, beating a screened Oettinger to make it 3-1. Heading into the final frame, the Oilers seemed to have full control of the game.

It was in the third period that everything unraveled for the Oilers—and everything clicked for the Stars. Dallas came out of the intermission with renewed energy and aggression, and Edmonton simply couldn’t match it.

Mason Marchment got the comeback started just 1:22 into the third, tipping in a point shot from Thomas Harley to cut the lead to 3-2. The American Airlines Center erupted, sensing a shift in momentum. Moments later, Wyatt Johnston continued his stellar postseason by tying the game with a wrist shot that beat Skinner five-hole after a poor defensive zone turnover by Edmonton.

Suddenly, a 3-1 Oilers lead had evaporated in less than four minutes. And the Stars weren’t done.

At 8:15, Roope Hintz—silent for much of the game—found twine with a blistering shot off the rush to give Dallas its first lead of the night. The Oilers, clearly stunned, began to unravel defensively. Penalties, giveaways, and poor puck management plagued them for the rest of the period.

Dallas took full advantage. Robertson added his second of the night with a snipe on the power play at 12:47, pushing the lead to 5-3. The final dagger came courtesy of an empty-netter from Jamie Benn with 1:09 remaining, sealing a 6-3 win for the Stars and igniting a thunderous celebration from the home crowd.

For Edmonton, the third period was nothing short of disastrous. After outshooting Dallas 22-18 through two periods and dictating much of the pace, the Oilers were outshot 17-5 in the final frame. More critically, they lost their composure.

Connor McDavid, who had two assists through the first 40 minutes, was held in check in the third, unable to generate any meaningful chances as Dallas clogged the neutral zone and took away his time and space. Draisaitl, who was dominant early, barely touched the puck in the final ten minutes.

The Oilers’ defensive structure also completely collapsed. Veteran defensemen Mattias Ekholm and Darnell Nurse were on the ice for multiple goals against and appeared gassed as the Stars pushed the tempo. Stuart Skinner, while not entirely to blame, failed to come up with a key save when his team needed it most.

One of the biggest themes of Dallas’ postseason run has been its scoring depth. That was on full display in Game 1. Five different players found the back of the net, and 11 different Stars recorded at least one point. It was a masterclass in balanced offense and opportunistic hockey.

Jason Robertson, who struggled to produce earlier in the playoffs, was a force throughout, scoring twice and adding an assist. His resurgence could be a major storyline moving forward in the series.

Miro Heiskanen, often overshadowed by more offensive-minded defensemen, played a brilliant two-way game, logging over 25 minutes of ice time and assisting on two goals while matching up against Edmonton’s top line.

Head coach Pete DeBoer lauded his team’s resilience postgame:
“We’ve been in that position before. Our group doesn’t panic. We just stuck to our structure and kept pushing. The third period was a great example of what we’re capable of when we’re playing fast and smart.”

Jake Oettinger may have given up three goals, but his performance was crucial. In the first and second periods, he kept Dallas within striking distance with several high-danger saves. In the third, he was impenetrable, denying Edmonton any chance of a counter-punch once the Stars took the lead.

Stuart Skinner, on the other hand, will face criticism after giving up five goals in one period. His .792 save percentage in the game is a major concern, especially given his inconsistent form during the Vancouver series. Whether head coach Kris Knoblauch considers going to backup Calvin Pickard in Game 2 remains to be seen.

This win goes beyond just taking a 1-0 series lead. It sends a message. The Stars proved they could go toe-to-toe with the NHL’s most explosive offense and outlast them. Their ability to dominate the third period in such convincing fashion shifts the psychological pressure onto the Oilers.

Dallas now holds home-ice advantage and a renewed sense of confidence. With their crowd behind them and momentum on their side, Game 2 becomes a golden opportunity to put Edmonton on the ropes.

For Edmonton, Game 2 becomes a must-win in many ways. Dropping the first two games on the road would force them to sweep at home just to stay alive. The Oilers must regroup, especially on defense and in goal.

Head coach Kris Knoblauch acknowledged the challenge ahead:
“We played well for two periods, but you can’t take your foot off the gas against a team like Dallas. We have to be better—smarter with the puck, tighter in our zone, and more disciplined.”

Expect lineup tweaks, perhaps a defensive shakeup or even a goaltending change. More than anything, the Oilers will need to find a way to stem Dallas’ speed and transition game, which overwhelmed them in the third period.

Game 2 will take place in Dallas in two nights, and the intensity is only expected to rise. Edmonton will look to strike back, while the Stars hope to replicate their third-period dominance over a full 60 minutes.

The health of Roope Hintz and the continued production of Robertson will be storylines for the Stars, while all eyes will be on Skinner’s status in goal and how the Oilers’ stars respond under pressure.

As the Western Conference Final heats up, one thing is clear: the Dallas Stars are not going quietly—and the Edmonton Oilers have their work cut out for them.