The Edmonton Oilers entered Game 1 of the Western Conference Final riding high. With Stuart Skinner fresh off back-to-back shutouts and their offensive depth clicking, expectations were mounting for another strong postseason showing. And for two periods, they delivered — until it all came undone in the third.
After building a 2–0 lead, Edmonton unraveled in stunning fashion, surrendering four straight goals and ultimately falling 6–3 to the Dallas Stars. The collapse marked a harsh regression for Skinner, who had seemingly reclaimed his starting role after a rocky start to the playoffs.
Following the defeat, Skinner addressed the team’s dramatic drop-off: “We let down our guard for five or six minutes, got into some penalty trouble,” he told reporters. “They were coming out hot, momentum kind of shifted for them in that moment, and obviously it bit us.”
The turning point came during a chaotic stretch early in the third, when Skinner allowed four unanswered goals—three of them coming on the power play. What had been a controlled effort quickly unraveled into a defensive collapse, leaving the Oilers stunned and scrambling for answers.
Oilers lose control as penalties prove costly
Discipline was a central issue. Edmonton committed three stick infractions in quick succession, allowing Dallas to mount its comeback with lethal precision on the man advantage. Against a team as offensively potent as the Stars, such lapses prove costly — regardless of the goaltender’s form. “It’s a tough pill to swallow,” Skinner added. “You just can’t be doing that, especially at playoff time, especially against a team like this. They know how to score goals.”
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Edmonton eyes response in Game 2
Despite the setback, there’s no sense of panic in the Oilers’ camp. They’ve been here before. Oilers dropped Game 1s to both the Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks earlier in these playoffs and rebounded both times to win those series.
Last season, the Oilers also lost Games 2 and 3 against Dallas after winning Game 1 — only to rally and win the series in six. In that sense, Game 1’s result is a blow, but not a fatal one.
No margin for error going forward
Until then, the Oilers are placing their trust in Skinner once more. He’ll need to respond quickly — not only to regain his rhythm, but to buy time for Calvin Pickard’s possible return. Falling behind 2–0 in the series would put enormous pressure on whoever is in net for Game 3.
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With Game 2 set for Friday, Oilers must regroup quickly. The team has proven its resilience throughout this postseason. Now, it must do so again — and prove that Game 1 was a misstep, not a trend.
