There were the first forty minutes of the game, and then there was the third period.
The Stars played two completely different hockey games in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Wednesday, trailing 3-1 after the first two periods and then rallying with a five-goal third to take the series opener.
Tyler Seguin struck twice, the Finns played their part and Jake Oettinger held off the rest.
See highlights, analysis, reactions, photos and more from the Stars’ stunning Game 1 win below.
Game coverage
— Stars rely on familiar postseason calling card to rewrite Game 1 fortunes vs. Oilers
— Five thoughts from Stars-Oilers Game 1: Power-play surge propels Dallas to victory
— Stars claim an early advantage over the Oilers by excelling with the man advantage
— Vintage Tyler Seguin, Matt Duchene shine as Stars’ grizzled vets lift Dallas to Game 1 win
— What the Oilers said: Stars flip the script on special teams narrative in Game 1
— National reaction from Stars-Oilers Game 1: ‘Sexiest third period you’ll ever see’
Game photos

Live updates
FINAL: Stars 6, Oilers 3
An empty-netter will put this one on ice. The Stars take game one behind a literal handful of third-period goals.
Stars 5, Oilers 3
Another one.
Tyler Seguin adds some insurance with just under four minutes left in the game. It looks like the Stars are set to steal one to open this series.
STEEL MAKES IT 4 UNANSWERED GOALS FOR DALLAS 🔥 pic.twitter.com/CR9hdH3cFJ
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 22, 2025
8:00 left in the third: This time the Dallas kill holds strong and keeps the 4-3 lead.
10:06 left in the third: The Stars have scored three straight on the power play, now their penalty kill will be tested. Dallas will go on the kill for two minutes trying to maintain their one-goal lead.
Stars 4, Oilers 3
Yes, they can. It only takes 11 seconds this time for the Stars to take their first lead of Game 1. An incredible third-period rally for the Stars.
What a rally!
— SportsDay Stars (@dmn_stars) May 22, 2025
Stars score three third-period goals in five minutes and have their first lead of the game. 🔥🔥🔥pic.twitter.com/sw09xkaeFe
14:13 left in the third: Back on the power play goes Dallas. Can the Stars make it three in a row to take the lead?
Stars 3, Oilers 3
The Stars strike back to tie Game 1 just as quickly as Edmonton built its two-goal lead. It’s a whole new ballgame in the third period with American Airlines Center pulsing.
17:09 left in the third: Dallas will go right back on the power play on a high sticking call against the Oilers. The Stars with a chance to tie.
Oilers 3, Stars 2
The Stars cash in on the power play and are immediately back within striking distance to start the third period.
It’s Miro Heiskanen’s first goal since Jan. 9.
Miro Heiskanen: Officially back. 😤😤😤
— SportsDay Stars (@dmn_stars) May 22, 2025
Heiskanen's first goal since Jan. 9 gets the Stars back in it in Game 1.
(Via @BR_OpenIce | #TexasHockey)pic.twitter.com/JCAsg2Y3zN
End of the second period
Oilers 3, Stars 1
Dallas trails by two but will begin the third period with leftover time on the power play and a chance to get back into it.
1:02 left in the second: Dallas successfully kills off the penalty and now gets a power play of its own. The Stars are looking to score on the man-advantage for the first time in 15 tries against the Oilers dating back to last season’s WCF.
5:11 left in the second: The Stars will go on another penalty kill with a little over five minutes remaining in the period. Another goal and a three-goal deficit into the second intermission would be pretty detrimental.
Oilers 3, Stars 1
Another quick strike by the Oilers puts the Stars in a hole in Game 1. Evan Bouchard makes it a two-score game.
BOUCHARD MAKES IT 3-1 👀 pic.twitter.com/YXEvXOdyfw
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 22, 2025
Oilers 2, Stars 1
A Mason Marchment tripping penalty leads to Edmonton’s second score of the game, a power play goal netted by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
NUUUUUUUUUGE 🗣️ #StanleyCup
— NHL (@NHL) May 22, 2025
🇺🇸: @espn & @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/m0LyTCHYnH
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF pic.twitter.com/1KfPDAITwE
End of the first period
Stars 1, Oilers 1
Tyler Seguin evens things back up in Game 1 with an unassisted breakaway goal, firing a wrist shot past Stuart Skinner.
Tyler Seguin with a steal and a score to tie things up in Game 1. ⚡⚡⚡
— SportsDay Stars (@dmn_stars) May 22, 2025
AAC is loud. 🔊
(@BR_OpenIce | #TexasHockey)pic.twitter.com/bHKHLKWH3u
Oilers 1, Stars 0
Fresh off the penalty kill, Edmonton gets on the board. It was Leon Draisaitl, who led the Oilers in goals scored during the regular season.
Leon Draisaitl gets the Oilers on the board first in Game 1. #TexasHockey pic.twitter.com/bfruIwFn9I
— SportsDay Stars (@dmn_stars) May 22, 2025
10:00 left in the first: Dallas comes close on the power play and even appeared to bounce one off Stuart Skinner at one point, but can’t manage to put one in.
12:36 left in the first: The Stars have put together a few scoring chances and despite failing to get on the board, they do draw the series’ first power play. Dallas goes on the man-advantage for two minutes.
16:00 left in the first: Connor McDavid with his first “wow” moment of the series as he carves past the Dallas defense, but Jake Oettinger comes up with a big save to keep Game 1 scoreless.
Connor McDavid is BUZZING early in Game 1 🥵 pic.twitter.com/J8q4TygVl9
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 22, 2025
Pregame updates
6:50 p.m.: Stars’ expected lines for Game 1 against Edmonton:
Granlund-Hintz-Rantanen
Robertson-Johnston-Duchene
Marchment-Steel-Seguin
Benn-Bäck-Dadonov
Lindell-Ceci
Harley-Heiskanen
Bichsel-Lyubushkin
Oettinger
DeSmith
And for the Oilers:
Nugent-Hopkins - McDavid - Hyman
Podkolzin - Draisaitl - Kapanen
Kane - Henrique - Brown
Frederic - Janmark - Perry
Kulak - Bouchard
Nurse - Stecher
Walman - Klingberg
Skinner
Rodrigue
Hello from the Western Conference finals 🤠
— Lia Assimakopoulos (@Lassimak) May 21, 2025
The Dallas Stars’ chance at revenge against the Edmonton Oilers begins tonight.
Game 1 at the AAC 🔜 pic.twitter.com/g6L0yobcmq
The Suomi Stars 🌟🇫🇮 pic.twitter.com/xzDFsO4bUn
— Lia Assimakopoulos (@Lassimak) May 21, 2025
"Maintaining your poise is huge for any series, this one especially."
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 21, 2025
Thomas Harley chats with @GenePrincipe ahead of Game 1 of the Western Conference Final. pic.twitter.com/krWnSsAJ47
Let's do this.@7eleven | #TexasHockey pic.twitter.com/6NWK52kDaq
— X - Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) May 21, 2025
MCDAVID. RANTANEN 🔥
— ESPN (@espn) May 21, 2025
GAME 1 IS TONIGHT ON ESPN/ESPN+! 🏆
🍿 8 PM ET pic.twitter.com/WiKmAHfCl7
Pregame reading
— Stars-Oilers rivalry is joining the greatest feuds in Dallas’ history of pro sports
— Stars-Oilers predictions: Can Dallas get over WCF hump, return to Stanley Cup Final?
— With Miro Heiskanen returning to form, will Dallas Stars deploy normal lineup vs. Oilers?
— Special teams ended Stars’ 2024 season. Could it be a strength in rematch vs. Oilers?
— Meet the physical therapist who helped get an injured Stars roster back to full strength
