After taking a double-minor penalty in the first overtime and getting robbed by Oettinger later in the period, Connor McDavid was the OT hero as the Edmonton Oilers took Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
It took just over four periods of hockey to decide what was a thoroughly entertaining, back-and-forth game on Thursday night. Both goaltenders were brilliant, especially in overtime, and the table has been set for what should be a spectacular series.
This is the Dallas Stars’ second straight conference final. Somehow, this was the seventh straight Game 1 that they’ve lost. They are 4-2 in their last seven series.
For the Oilers, this was their third win in a row, and after being in survival mode for the previous two, they will leave Dallas with at least a split after winning the series opener.
McDavid, Skinner, the Heros for the Oilers
There are two players in Edmonton who have caused concern for media and fans alike. One you would maybe expect, but the other has come as a complete shock.
Stuart Skinner had a brilliant regular season. 12 of his 36 wins came during the Oilers epic winning streak, in which he allowed two or fewer goals in each of the 12 wins. He’s capable of strong regular season play, we know this. However, the lights are brighter in the playoffs, and through two rounds, we’ve seen unreliable performances a little too often.
Last night he put all of that concern to rest. For now. He made an incredible stop on a partial breakaway minutes into the game, and from then on he settled in very nicely. The game-tying goal was a bad break off the skate, and during overtime, he made a half-dozen terrific saves to give his team a chance.
Connor McDavid made the most of that chance by scoring the game-winner a minute into the second overtime.
There’s been a lot of speculation that McDavid is not healthy despite putting up 21 points before last night’s contest. He just hasn’t been moving the same, and his goal-scoring has fallen off completely.
Last night, he still seemed to be favoring something, but it was by far the best we’ve seen him play in quite a while. He skated better and had more open ice than in recent memory.
However, the beginning of the first overtime saw him take a double-minor for high-sticking, putting his team in a tough spot right away. Some terrific saves and a couple of shots of the posts later, and the Oilers were back in the game.
Towards the end of the first overtime, McDavid had what looked like a wide-open net before Oettinger reached across the crease with his paddle, denying Edmonton’s superstar.
McDavid would have his revenge as he scored his third goal of the playoffs early in the second overtime, giving the Oilers a 1-0 series lead.
Another Slow Series Start for the Stars
They say it’s not how you start; it’s how you finish. In recent memory, nothing could be more true for the Dallas Stars. Despite winning two rounds last year and two rounds so far this year, the Stars cannot buy a Game 1 win.
Both teams seemed to be feeling each other out in the first period, and that was the case, especially for the Stars.
After being shut down for most of the game, both 5-on-5 and on the powerplay, their depth broke through in the form of Tyler Seguin scoring both Dallas goals to tie the game.
In overtime, they controlled much of the play, and just couldn’t get one past the post, or past the goaltender.
Defensively, their game wasn’t awful, but the stat sheet with show their top D-man, Chris Tanev, with a -2 on the night. He made a brilliant defensive play on McDavid in the first overtime, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that he was out of position on the game-winner.
Special Teams a Factor Early
For the Oilers, their powerplay only had one opportunity, in which they did not capitalize. It’s a good thing for the Stars, because the Dallas PK has not been good this post-season.
However, it’s the Oilers’ PK that really deserves the attention, and the Stars PP as well for that matter.
Dallas went 0/5 on the powerplay, including the double-minor to start overtime. That’s 19 straight penalties killed for the Oilers, and if Dallas really wants to neutralize the number one special teams in the playoffs, they have to make the most of those opportunities.
They will have their next chance on Saturday, as Game 2 gets underway at 8:00 pm EST in Dallas.
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