In one of the most efficient performances you will see in an NHL Playoff game, the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Dallas Stars 2-1 to send them to the Stanley Cup Final. This marks the eighth time the Oilers will play for a chance to raise Lord Stanley. Edmonton was decisive in their start, as superstar Connor McDavid set the tone of the game with a power play goal mere minutes (4:17) into the first period. McDavid really put his stamp on this game by assisting Zach Hyman with the second goal of the game, also coming in the first period. If you tuned into the game late in period one, you might have thought the broadcast made a typo on the score bug. Dallas had twelve shots to Edmonton’s three, but the Oilers led 2-0. Scoring two goals on three shots in a conference final game is beyond remarkable, and clearly had a rattling effect on Dallas.
The only star to shine brighter than McDavid was Oilers goaltender, Stuart Skinner, who saved 34 of 35 total shots last night. Skinner bounced back in a huge way after letting up 4 goals in Game 3, only allowing four total goals in the final three games of the series. He was rightfully given a ‘Star of the Game’ for his work between the pipes in last nights close out game.
Once Edmonton secured their second goal, it was time to drain clock. Something very difficult to do with two-plus periods remaining. But the Oilers had a plan and were going to stick to it. If we look back at Game 5, the Oilers found themselves in a similar position in the second period. Up three with one period remaining, the goal was to burn minutes and keep Dallas from getting too many good looks, and they did just that. Fast forward to last night, Edmonton needed to kill 40 minutes of clock to advance. Calling off the hounds and playing passive hockey is a risky strategy. Just because a team plays conservative does not grant them immunity from scoring. The way to kill time in hockey is not as simple as running a prevent defense in football, players have to make conscious decisions in a split-second to either force the issue or pull back and play conservative, and committing penalties could throw off the entire gameplan. Momentum is real in hockey. All a team needs is one goal, a few minutes left, and anything can happen. On multiple occasions last night (and in Game 5), the Oilers showed poise in high-leverage situations. Instead of turning defensive turnovers into immediate pressures, the Oilers fell back and set up the ice ensuring the next shift (shifts last anywhere from 45 seconds to 2 minutes) would be one controlled by them. On pucks against the boards, Edmonton players trapped them with their skates for as long as humanly possible in an attempt to stall the game completely. These tactics proved successful as the Oilers put on a masterclass in Games 5 & 6 with physical and sophisticated play. One key play you won’t see on the stat sheet came with 8:05 left in the final period, Dallas trailing by one. Stars center ,Logan Stankoven, found himself in front of a wide-open net with a chance to score the equalizer and revive the Stars hopes. As he set up for the puck coming his way, Oilers center, Ryan McCleod, threw a hip-check that disrupted Stankoven just enough to prevent a shot that would have more than likely tied the game. Dallas did not get another look that high percentage the remainder of the game.
The Oilers 4-2 series victory puts them back in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2006, as they look to become the first Canadian team to hoist the cup since Montreal did it in 1993. If Edmonton is successful, they will win their first Stanly Cup since winning five in seven years (1983-1990). Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers is Saturday, June 8th at 7 CT on ABC.
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