Dallas Stars vs. Edmonton Oilers Game 2

Stars Look to Double Down at Home with Depth and Discipline

Game 1 was a tale of resilience for the Dallas Stars. After trailing 3–1 heading into the third, Dallas stormed back with five unanswered goals to take the series opener 6–3. The Stars cashed in on three power plays in the third period, completely flipping the game behind their balanced scoring, physical edge, and Jake Oettinger’s steadiness in net.

Despite Edmonton’s early punch powered by Leon Draisaitl (1G 2A) and Connor McDavid (2A) the Oilers unraveled under Dallas’s relentless forecheck and power play pressure. Defensive zone breakdowns and poor penalty killing (3 PP goals allowed in under six minutes) opened the door for the Stars, who executed with poise and structure.

A growing concern for Edmonton is the play of Stuart Skinner. While he posted two shutouts in the previous series against Vegas, his overall numbers remain alarming a 3.39 goals-against average, .872 save percentage, and a 2–4 record in the playoffs. Those metrics simply aren’t good enough in the Conference Final especially against a deep, opportunistic Dallas offense. It doesn't matter how many points McDavid and Draisaitl can put up if the puck keeps finding the back of Edmonton’s net. The Oilers need much more from their goaltender to stay in this series.

Expect Dallas to carry that momentum into Game 2. They’ve been excellent at home all season and boast more scoring depth, stronger blue-line stability, and a netminder in Oettinger who continues to outplay expectations. With the Oilers potentially scrambling to adjust their penalty kill and hoping for a bounce-back from Skinner, this is another strong situational edge for the home team.

Best Bet: Dallas Stars Moneyline (-120)

Dallas proved they can weather Edmonton’s top-end talent and exploit the depth gaps that exist behind it. Their power play is in rhythm, and the Stars' ability to control the puck at 5-on-5 and lean on a structured defensive game gives them the upper hand. With special teams momentum and home-ice advantage, the value on Dallas at this number is strong.