Stars Storm Back With Five Unanswered Goals in Third Period to Stun Oilers 6-3 in Western Conference Final Game 1

The Dallas Stars delivered a statement performance in the opening game of the Western Conference Final, rallying from a two-goal deficit with a blistering five-goal third period to defeat the Edmonton Oilers 6-3 on Thursday night. In a game that featured elite skill, momentum swings, and playoff-level intensity, the Stars’ late surge overwhelmed the Oilers and flipped the narrative of the series opener in a matter of minutes.

Trailing 3-1 heading into the final 20 minutes, the Stars appeared on the brink of falling behind early in the series against a team boasting the firepower of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Zach Hyman. But what followed was a dazzling display of resilience and opportunism, as Dallas reeled off five unanswered goals in the third period to stun the Oilers and take a 1-0 series lead in front of a raucous home crowd.

The third-period explosion began just 2:47 into the frame when Wyatt Johnston buried a rebound to cut the deficit to one. The 21-year-old rising star, who has been sensational throughout the postseason, was in perfect position after Roope Hintz’s initial shot was kicked aside by Edmonton goalie Stuart Skinner. Johnston’s quick strike reignited the Stars’ bench and ignited the crowd at American Airlines Center.

The momentum shifted firmly into Dallas’ hands just minutes later when Jamie Benn knotted the game at 3-3 on a wrist shot from the left circle that eluded Skinner’s glove side. The Stars captain had been relatively quiet to that point, but as he’s done throughout his career, he showed up in the clutch when his team needed him most.

With the game tied and the Oilers reeling, Dallas pressed its advantage. Thomas Harley gave the Stars their first lead of the night with just under nine minutes to play, finishing a slick feed from Tyler Seguin to make it 4-3. Harley’s tally marked the Stars’ third goal in a span of just over ten minutes and left the Oilers grasping for answers as their structure unraveled.

The onslaught didn’t stop there. Just 90 seconds after Harley’s go-ahead goal, Evgenii Dadonov made it 5-3, capitalizing on an Oilers turnover in the neutral zone and catching Skinner off guard with a quick-release shot that snuck under the crossbar. The crowd erupted again, sensing that the Stars were not just winning — they were making a statement.

To cap off the stunning turnaround, Dallas added an empty-netter with under two minutes to play, courtesy of Mason Marchment, sealing the 6-3 victory and putting the finishing touches on one of the most impressive playoff comebacks in recent memory. Marchment’s goal marked the fifth unanswered tally of the period and sent fans into a frenzy, while the Oilers could do little more than watch the scoreboard and regroup.

For the Stars, the victory was a testament to their depth, structure, and belief in their game plan. Despite a sluggish start and some defensive lapses that led to three Oilers goals through two periods, Dallas never panicked. Head coach Pete DeBoer praised his team’s composure and energy after the game, noting that belief never wavered in the locker room during the second intermission.

“We knew we had another level,” DeBoer said. “That wasn’t our best in the first two periods. We talked about managing the puck better, being more aggressive in our forecheck, and staying disciplined. The guys responded in a big way. That’s playoff hockey — the ability to turn the tide when things aren’t going your way.”

The Oilers had looked poised to steal Game 1 through 40 minutes, riding an early wave of offensive brilliance. After a scoreless first period, Edmonton struck quickly in the second. McDavid opened the scoring just 37 seconds into the frame with a dazzling solo effort, slicing through two defenders and lifting a backhander past Jake Oettinger. Moments later, Draisaitl extended the lead to 2-0 on the power play, hammering a one-timer off a feed from Evan Bouchard.

Dallas answered with a goal of its own midway through the second, as Jason Robertson tipped a Miro Heiskanen point shot past Skinner to make it 2-1. But the Oilers responded just before intermission, with Hyman scoring his league-leading 12th goal of the playoffs off a broken play in front of the net to restore a two-goal cushion.

But that would be all the offense Edmonton could muster, as the third period belonged entirely to the Stars. Oettinger shut the door in the final frame, making several key stops to preserve the lead after Dallas pulled ahead. He finished with 29 saves on 32 shots and was rock solid when it mattered most.

Offensively, Dallas was led by a balanced attack. Six different skaters scored goals, and ten registered at least a point. Johnston, Benn, and Seguin each finished with a goal and an assist, while Heiskanen and Hintz both had two assists. It was the kind of performance that underscores why the Stars have been such a dangerous playoff team — they can beat opponents in a variety of ways and don’t rely solely on one line to carry the load.

On the other side, the Oilers will be forced to regroup and respond quickly. Despite playing two strong periods, their third-period collapse exposed some lingering concerns, particularly in net and defensive coverage. Skinner, who has faced scrutiny at times throughout Edmonton’s playoff run, allowed five goals on just 19 shots in the final frame and finished the night with a .806 save percentage. Head coach Kris Knoblauch declined to commit to Skinner as the Game 2 starter but acknowledged the need for a more complete effort.

“We played great hockey for 40 minutes,” Knoblauch said. “But it’s a 60-minute game, and against a team like Dallas, you can’t let off the gas. We made some mistakes, gave up momentum, and couldn’t get it back. That’s on all of us, coaches and players. We’ll learn from it.”

The loss snaps Edmonton’s five-game winning streak and marks the first time this postseason they’ve allowed six goals in a game. Still, McDavid and company have shown resilience throughout their playoff run, and they’ll look to bounce back in Game 2 on Saturday night in Dallas. The Oilers are no strangers to adversity and will lean on their high-octane offense to even the series before heading home to Rogers Place.

For the Stars, Game 1 is more than just a win — it’s a psychological edge. Coming from behind to beat a team as potent as the Oilers sends a message not only to Edmonton but to the rest of the league. Dallas showed they can keep pace with the fastest team in the playoffs and even outscore them when the stakes are highest.

The challenge now is to maintain that level. Playoff series are about adjustments, and the Oilers will surely come back with a renewed focus. But if the Stars continue to get contributions up and down the lineup, play with the same tenacity they showed in the third period, and get timely saves from Oettinger, they will be a tough out — not just in this series, but in the race for the Stanley Cup.

Game 2 looms large, as the Stars look to defend home ice and take a 2-0 stranglehold before the series shifts north. If Thursday night’s stunning third-period turnaround is any indication, this Western Conference Final is just getting started.