The conference final of the Stanley Cup Playoffs features four teams in two best-of-7 series, which start Wednesday. Today, NHL.com previews the Western Conference Final between the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers.
(1C) Dallas Stars vs. (2P) Edmonton Oilers
Stars: 52-21-9, 113 points; defeated Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in first round, Colorado Avalanche 4-2 in second round
Oilers: 49-27-6, 104 points; defeated Los Angeles Kings 4-1 in first round, Vancouver Canucks 4-3 in second round
Season series: DAL: 2-0-1, EDM: 1-2-0
Game 1: Thursday, 8:30 p.m. ET (TNT, truTV, MAX, SN, CBC, TVAS)
The Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers will meet for the ninth time in the Stanley Cup Playoffs when they face off in the Western Conference Final.
The last time they played one another in the postseason was the 2003 conference quarterfinals, when Dallas defeated Edmonton in six games. The Stars/Minnesota North Stars are 6-2 in eight postseason games against Edmonton since 1983-84.
Each had a tremendous second half to the regular season. The Oilers (31-12-5, 67 points) and Stars (30-12-5, 65 points) were the top two teams in standings points among West teams after Jan. 1.
The Stars are coming off two tough series, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in seven games in the first round and the Colorado Avalanche in six in the second round. They've been able to get some rest and practice time since eliminating the Avalanche last Friday, something that they're welcoming.
"I'm not worried about rust," coach Pete DeBoer said. "It's going to end up being six days maybe?
"With the two series we just went through, we could use the time. It's actually probably a perfect amount of time that we can recharge, get some guys healthy and get reset for the next round. Rolling that first round into the second round with the two opponents we had was a really tough month of hockey."
After a five-game win against the Los Angeles Kings in the first round, the Oilers went seven in the second round with the Vancouver Canucks, winning the final two games of the series to advance.
"It's the conference final. You're going to play a great team and they certainly are," Oilers captain Connor McDavid said. "They're deep, as deep a team as you're going to find in the NHL. Four lines, six D-men, they have a great goaltender. It's going to be a great test and we're looking forward to it."
Game breakers
Stars: You could still argue Wyatt Johnston for this category, but we'll go with Miro Heiskanen for this round. The defenseman has been outstanding in the postseason, leading the Stars with 13 points (five goals, eight assists). Heiskanen came up big in the second round, when he had eight points (four goals, four assists). He is averaging 28:01 of ice time per game, most among defensemen still in the postseason.
Oilers: Leon Draisaitl narrowly edges McDavid, like he's doing in postseason production. The forward leads the playoffs with 24 points (eight goals, 16 assists); McDavid is next with 21 points (two goals, 19 assists). Draisaitl is also first with a 2.00 points-per-game average and six power-play goals. He has two game-winning goals in 12 postseason games, tied with Zach Hyman for second on the Oilers behind defenseman Evan Bouchard (three).
Goaltending
Stars: Jake Oettinger (8-5) is one of three goalies with eight postseason wins, with Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers (8-2) and Sergei Bobrovsky of the Florida Panthers (8-3). Oettinger has been up to the task once again, with a 2.09 goals-against average and .918 save percentage. He saved his best for his last start, making 29 saves in a 2-1 double-overtime win to eliminate the Avalanche.
Oilers: Edmonton changed goalies for two games in the second round, but Stuart Skinner has gotten most of the starts, going 7-3 with a 2.87 GAA, .881 save percentage and one shutout. He made 15 saves in a 3-2 win against Vancouver on Monday, the first Game 7 of his NHL career. Calvin Pickard is 1-1 with a 2.21 GAA and .915 save percentage in three games (two starts).
Numbers to know
Stars: They have reached the conference final for the 13th time in their history and seventh since relocating to Dallas in 1993-94. Their 13 appearances are the second most among non-Original Six franchises behind the Philadelphia Flyers (16).
Oilers: With its second-round victory, Edmonton became the ninth team in NHL history to reach at least 40 series wins. Since the Oilers entered the League in 1979-80, those 40 wins are the most among all teams and three more than the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings over that span.
