If their Western Conference finals rematch against the Edmonton Oilers is about righting their wrongs from 2024, the Dallas Stars are off to a solid start.
Despite entering the third period trailing by two goals, the Stars scored three power-play goals in a six-minute span to gain the lead and secure a 6-3 victory in Game 1 at American Airlines Center on Wednesday night. The Stars were unable to score a power-play goal against the Oilers in the series last year, ultimately leading to their downfall.
For the second straight series, the Stars capitalized on home-ice advantage to jump out to a 1-0 series lead. The Stars and Oilers will meet at American Airlines Center again for Game 2 at 7 p.m. Friday night.
Here are five thoughts from the win:
Stars rewrite power play narrative
The Stars could not beat the Oilers in the Western Conference finals last year, and the special teams battle was a big reason.
Edmonton went 4-for-11 on the power play, while Dallas went 0-for-14 in their six postseason games last season.
Early in Game 1, it seemed that trend would continue, as the Stars couldn’t generate anything on their first power play, and the Oilers scored just 25 seconds into theirs.
But early in the third period, the Stars capitalized on their special teams advantage, scoring three power-play goals in the first 5:58 of the period.
Miro Heiskanen scored the first just 32 seconds into the period on a power play that carried over from the second. Mikael Granlund added the next 3:17 later. And just over two minutes after that, Matt Duchene scored his first goal of the playoffs 11 seconds into Dallas’ third power play of the period.
The Stars finished 3-for-4 on the power play Wednesday night. The Stars entered the series leading the four playoff teams remaining in power play percentage (30.8%). The Oilers’ penalty kill was the worst at just 66.7% entering the series.
Edmonton had gone just 6-for-24 and hadn’t scored a power play goal on the road in the playoffs until Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored just 25 seconds into their first try. The Oilers finished 1-for-3 on the power play Wednesday night.
Tyler Seguin and Matt Duchene snap droughts
The Stars needed increased contributions from forwards who hadn’t been regulars on the scoresheet through their first 13 playoff games.
Matt Duchene had not scored despite finishing the regular season with 30 goals.
Duchene had plenty of opportunities, especially in the series against Winnipeg, but finally cashed in Wednesday night, scoring on the power play to give Dallas a 4-3 lead in the third period.
Tyler Seguin also snapped a drought of his own. After going 10 games without a goal, he put the Stars on the board late in the first period, scoring an unassisted goal on a breakaway after stealing the puck near the blue line. He added a second with under four minutes remaining in regulation in transition with Sam Steel.
Seguin now has four goals and four assists in 14 playoff games. His first two goals came in the Colorado series, including the overtime winner in Game 3 in Colorado. Duchene has a goal and five assists.
Miro Heiskanen’s impact evident
The Stars were finally back to full strength Wednesday night, as they used a 12-forward, six-defensemen lineup for the first time since Heiskanen’s return from knee surgery.
Dallas had played seven defensemen in the last three games to limit Heiskanen’s ice time, but the lineup adjustment indicated he was ready for his normal load.
His play on the ice showed the same.
Heiskanen played 24:12 Wednesday night and 27 shifts, his most of the playoffs so far.
He also scored his first goal back from injury just 32 seconds into the third period on the power play. It was his first goal since Jan. 9 before his knee surgery in early February.
Heiskanen also assisted on Granlund’s goal and now has four points in four games. He averaged close to a point per game for Dallas in the playoffs last year with 16 points in 19 games.
Edmonton’s best players shine
The Oilers had gotten more contributions from their depth players through the first two rounds, but their top scorers produced in Game 1 in Dallas.
Leon Draisaitl, who led the NHL in goals this year and is a finalist for the Hart Trophy as a result, opened the series’ scoring in the first period before recording another two assists for a three-point night.
Three-time Hart winner Connor McDavid and fellow top-line forward Nugent-Hopkins each had two points. And Edmonton’s top defenseman Evan Bouchard added the third goal.
The Stars knew those players would be challenging to contain, but moving forward, they’ll need to do a better job limiting at least some of Edmonton’s top weapons.
Stars capitalize on goalie advantage
The Stars had the goaltender advantage in last year’s series against the Oilers, but Stuart Skinner stood on his head to lead Edmonton to the Stanley Cup Final.
Jake Oettinger has been one of the best goalies in the NHL this postseason, with a .919 save percentage and 2.47 goals-against average. Despite posting back-to-back shutouts, Skinner has been inconsistent. After starting the playoffs, he was benched for Calvin Pickard and only returned to the lineup after Pickard suffered an injury last round.
Skinner started the game well, giving up only a breakaway goal to Seguin, but the Stars got to him later. He struggled with traffic in front of the net on the Stars’ power play goals and gave up four goals in the third period.
Skinner made 22 saves on 27 shots. Oettinger, who may have wanted back some of the goals he gave up Wednesday, ultimately did enough for the Stars, making 24 saves.