EDMONTON, Alberta — The Dallas Stars still have few answers on offense, and the Edmonton Oilers have cruised to consecutive victories.
For the first time this playoff run, the Stars lost consecutive games, falling 6-1 to the Oilers in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals at Rogers Place on Sunday afternoon.
The Stars gave up two goals just 36 seconds apart late in the first period, and despite a push in the second period, could not close the gap.
The series remains in Edmonton for Game 4 Tuesday night. The Stars need to secure a win to avoid being on the verge of their season ending.
Here are five thoughts from the loss:
Dallas’ forward depth scoring remains a problem
The Stars may have the deepest forward group in the playoffs this year, but it hasn’t felt that way.
All postseason long, the Stars have struggled to get a variety of scorers going, from Jason Robertson to Matt Duchene to Wyatt Johnston.
The Dallas forwards have just one goal in the last two games. Dallas’ lone goal was originally credited to defenseman Lian Bichsel, but later changed to Robertson’s first goal of the playoffs on a deflection.
Robertson wasn’t even aware postgame that he had been awarded the goal.
After falling into an early deficit, the Stars made quite the push in the second. They started the period with a power play and had a 21-7 shot advantage but could score only one goal in the frame.
The Stars’ season will come to an abrupt end if they can’t quickly turn around their scoring struggles.
Stars unable to stop the bleeding
In all three games this series, the Stars have been right in the game, but a flurry of Oilers goals made each feel out of reach.
In Game 1, Edmonton scored two goals 1:40 apart in the second period. In Game 2, the Oilers scored two in the second just 1:23 apart.
And in Game 3, the Stars allowed two goals in just 36 seconds — one by Evan Bouchard after a missed delay of game penalty against Edmonton, and another the next shift on a 3-on-1 by Connor McDavid.
The Stars suffered similar struggles in the regular season, playing poorly in their next shift after goals. Against a team with as much star power as Edmonton, the Stars need to be their best after allowing a goal.
The Stars also gave up three third-period goals to put the game far out of reach.
Connor McDavid is taking over
Last year, the Stars didn’t have much of an answer for the greatest player in the world, and McDavid has been similarly challenging for Dallas so far this series.
The Oilers captain had his best game yet Sunday, scoring two goals, one in transition in the first period and the other from the right face-off dot with just 18.8 seconds left in the second period.
Those were his first goals of the series, but he’s recorded points in all three games, totaling five so far this round and 22 in 14 playoff games.
Zach Hyman also had a two-goal game for Edmonton, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins may be the best player in the series so far with seven points in three games after a three-assist night Sunday.
Their performances are even more concerning when the Stars haven’t had anyone step up in similar fashion.
Stuart Skinner looked to be better goaltender
Even if Dallas had the goaltending advantage on paper entering the series, Stuart Skinner has looked better in the last two games.
Stars goalie Jake Oettinger, who kept their season alive during the first two rounds, has looked shaky and let in some uncharacteristic goals Sunday afternoon. He made 18 saves on 24 shots.
Skinner was lights out for the Oilers. After shutting out Dallas in Game 2, he made 33 saves on 34 shots, including 20 saves in the second period alone.
Outside of the third period of Game 1, the Stars have not gotten to Skinner, and he’s had no trouble stopping them.
Roope Hintz injury doesn’t help
When the Stars were already struggling to score, losing their top-line center certainly didn’t help.
Hintz went down with a left leg injury after a slash by Darnell Nurse in the third period of Game 2. He was ruled a game-time decision for Game 3 and skated during warmups but left early. He was ultimately scratched, and Oskar Bäck entered the lineup.
Hintz‘s line with Mikael Granlund and Mikko Rantanen has been Dallas’ best this playoff run. Robertson and Johnston took shifts on that line Sunday, but neither combination could get much going.
The Stars will hope Hintz, whom Stars coach Pete DeBoer ruled day-to-day, is out for only a game and can return Tuesday. They need all the offensive weapons they can get.