Zach Hyman’s Two Goals, Assist, Ten Hits and +5 Rating Propel Oilers Past Stars and Earn Him Player of the Game

In one of their most dominant performances of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Edmonton Oilers dismantled the Dallas Stars in a commanding 6-1 win on Monday night, and leading the charge was none other than Zach Hyman. With two goals, one assist, 10 hits, and an eye-popping +5 rating, Hyman was relentless at both ends of the ice, earning the Atturo Tires Player of the Game honors and helping the Oilers seize momentum in the Western Conference Finals.

The box score only begins to tell the story. Sure, Hyman’s two goals helped break the game open, and his assist on Evan Bouchard’s goal in the second period padded Edmonton’s lead, but it was his unrelenting physical play and energy on every shift that truly set the tone. From the first puck drop, Hyman looked like a man on a mission, throwing his body into corners, disrupting passing lanes, and playing with the type of edge that playoff hockey demands. His 10 hits weren’t just stats—they were statements.

“He was a beast out there,” said Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch after the game. “Zach set the tone early. Every time he was on the ice, you felt something was going to happen—whether it was a big hit, a scoring chance, or just a momentum swing. That’s the kind of player he is and why he’s so valuable to this team.”

Hyman opened the scoring just 4:12 into the first period with a classic power-forward goal, muscling his way past Stars defenseman Esa Lindell and slipping a backhand shot through the five-hole of Jake Oettinger. The goal immediately ignited Rogers Place, with the hometown crowd rising to their feet in a roar that wouldn’t quiet down for the rest of the night. Edmonton was off and running, and Dallas never quite found its footing.

The first goal didn’t just light the lamp—it lit a fire under the entire Oilers lineup. Moments after Hyman’s tally, he delivered a crunching hit on Stars captain Jamie Benn behind the Dallas net, drawing a turnover that nearly led to another goal. Though that sequence didn’t result in a score, it captured the essence of Hyman’s night: physically punishing, offensively opportunistic, and defensively reliable.

“I try to play the same way every game,” Hyman said postgame, his jersey soaked with sweat and a wide smile on his face. “But when it’s the playoffs, you find another gear. We know how dangerous Dallas is, and we wanted to make a statement tonight. Everyone contributed, but it feels good to have a night like this when everything clicks.”

Click it did. Edmonton poured it on in the second period, outshooting Dallas 17-6 and scoring three unanswered goals to take a commanding 5-0 lead. Hyman was right in the middle of it, assisting on Bouchard’s goal with a smart pass from behind the net that found the defenseman in stride at the blue line. Bouchard made no mistake, blasting a one-timer through traffic and past Oettinger, who was pulled shortly afterward in favor of Scott Wedgewood.

The secondary assist may have seemed routine, but it was emblematic of Hyman’s hockey IQ and his growing chemistry with the team’s core. Hyman doesn’t just crash the net and grind along the boards—he sees the ice with clarity and anticipates plays before they unfold. That trait makes him a lethal complement to stars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who frequently benefit from the space Hyman creates and the chaos he sows in the offensive zone.

In the third period, with the game well in hand, Hyman added his second goal of the night. Again, it wasn’t flashy, but it was pure Hyman: digging out a loose puck during a net-front scrum and jamming it home before the defense could react. It marked his ninth goal of the playoffs, a total that now ranks him among the top postseason scorers league-wide.

His final stat line—2 goals, 1 assist, 10 hits, and a +5 rating—paints the picture of a complete performance. The +5 alone is rarefied air in a playoff game and speaks volumes about his two-way impact. Hyman was not on the ice for a single Dallas goal and was part of nearly every major Edmonton scoring sequence. He was the engine that drove the Oilers forward.

“He’s the definition of a gamer,” said McDavid. “Zach’s willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win. When he’s playing like that—hard, fast, physical—it lifts everybody. You could see it on the bench. Guys were feeding off it.”

And feed off it they did. Edmonton’s top six forwards all registered points, the blue line played its most cohesive game of the series, and Stuart Skinner delivered a solid 29-save performance, stifling any hope of a Dallas comeback. But as complete as the team’s performance was, Hyman’s game stood out above the rest. It was the type of playoff outing that legends are made of—equal parts grit, skill, and determination.

While the Atturo Tires Player of the Game award may not carry the prestige of a Conn Smythe Trophy, it was a fitting acknowledgment of a night in which Hyman truly carried the torch. His effort also served as a reminder of how vital secondary stars are in a deep playoff run. Every championship team has a player like Hyman—someone who might not always dominate the headlines but consistently makes winning plays, night after night.

For Oilers fans, this performance was another affirmation of what they’ve come to love about No. 18. Since arriving in Edmonton, Hyman has endeared himself with a workmanlike attitude and a team-first mentality. He doesn’t seek the spotlight, but games like this thrust it upon him. And when it does, he handles it with the same quiet composure that defines his game.

“I just love playing here,” Hyman said. “The fans are incredible. The atmosphere in this building during playoff time is unmatched. You want to give them something to cheer about every shift.”

He certainly did that and more. With the series now tilting in Edmonton’s favor, the focus shifts to Game 5, where the Oilers will look to build on the momentum and potentially punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final. If they do, it will be thanks in large part to players like Hyman—players who show up when it matters most and elevate their game under the brightest lights.

Dallas, to its credit, acknowledged the beatdown with grace but knows it must find a way to counter Hyman’s physical presence and Edmonton’s transition game. The Stars struggled to handle the forecheck all night, frequently coughing up pucks and failing to exit their zone cleanly. Much of that pressure came from the line Hyman anchored, which won nearly every puck battle and dictated pace.

“They were better than us in every area,” said Stars coach Pete DeBoer. “We need to be more disciplined, smarter with the puck, and more committed to matching their intensity. Hyman had a heck of a game—we need to find an answer for that.”

Easier said than done. Hyman has long made a living out of being the most difficult player to play against. He’s not the fastest or the flashiest, but he is often the most persistent. That persistence pays off in playoff hockey, where effort is often the difference between winning and losing, between lifting the Cup and going home early.

For now, though, the night belongs to Hyman. As he walked off the ice, he gave a quick wave to the crowd, who serenaded him with chants of “Hy-man! Hy-man!”—a rare solo tribute in a sport that so often celebrates the collective. It was well-earned.

The Oilers will need more performances like this if they hope to bring the Stanley Cup back to Edmonton for the first time since 1990. But if Monday night was any indication, Hyman is more than ready for the challenge. He’s not just a supporting player in the Oilers’ playoff story—he’s helping write the script.

And in Game 4, he wrote one of the most memorable chapters yet.