Rogers Place echoed with chants of “We Want the Cup” Tuesday night, and the Edmonton Oilers looked every bit like a team ready to answer the call.
Fueled by a surging power play and backstopped by a rock-solid Stuart Skinner, the Oilers delivered a commanding 4-1 win over the Dallas Stars in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final, taking a 3-1 stranglehold on the series. After losing Game 1 in frustrating fashion, Edmonton has stormed back with three straight wins, outscoring Dallas 13-2 in that span.
And now? They’re just one victory away from punching their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final.
Power Play Precision and Veteran Presence
Leon Draisaitl opened the scoring with a rocket from a tough angle, his seventh goal of the postseason, before Corey Perry, at age 40, tapped in a beauty on the man advantage to restore the lead in the second period. Perry’s goal wasn’t just a milestone for him. It underscored the Oilers’ lethal efficiency with the extra man and the impact of battle-tested veterans on this roster.
“This time of year, it’s not supposed to be easy,” said Draisaitl. “But we’ve stayed composed, stuck to our structure, and Stu’s been unbelievable back there.”
Indeed, Skinner was once again up to the task, turning aside 28 shots with poise and precision. His efforts anchored an Edmonton squad that looked composed even when the Stars pushed back hard early.
RNH Playing Like a Man on a Mission
Perhaps the quiet MVP of the series so far has been Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. With two more assists Tuesday night, the 31-year-old has now recorded four consecutive multi-point games, the first player to do so in a conference final since 1989. To find the last Oiler to post at least nine points in the first four games of a conference final, you have to rewind all the way to Wayne Gretzky.
Yes, that Gretzky.
“He’s always been steady,” said Oilers captain Connor McDavid. “But right now, he’s on another level.”
McDavid added two assists of his own, playing the role of facilitator as Edmonton took control late with empty-net goals from Kasperi Kapanen and Adam Henrique.
Dallas Looking for Answers
The Stars briefly tied it at 1-1 thanks to a slick power-play tally from Jason Robertson, but that was the only time they truly broke through. Jake Oettinger made 29 saves but saw his record in conference finals drop to a rough 5-11.
Forward Mikko Rantanen, held goalless for seven straight games, sounded the alarm post-game: “It’s not over. It’s just about one game now. We need to win at home and bring this thing back to Alberta.”
But Dallas has been its own worst enemy in first periods on the road, being outscored 10-0 to start games away from home in these playoffs. That trend continued in Game 4, and it’s put them on the brink.
Injuries and Adjustments
The Oilers suffered a potential blow when Zach Hyman exited in the first period after taking an open-ice hit from Mason Marchment. He did not return. Viktor Arvidsson stepped in for Connor Brown, who was sidelined after a heavy hit in Game 3.
Dallas got Roope Hintz back, but he looked tentative and remains questionable moving forward after a foot injury in Game 2.
What’s Next?
Game 5 shifts back to Dallas, and it’s officially do-or-die for the Stars. For the Oilers, it’s an opportunity to close things out and earn their first trip to the Stanley Cup Final since 2006.
The crowd at Rogers Place believes. The players believe. And the numbers certainly back it up. Edmonton is now a perfect 9-0 in Game 4s across their last three playoff runs.