The Edmonton Oilers have reached the Stanley Cup Final for the second consecutive year. They secured their spot by defeating the Dallas Stars 6-3 in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final. This follows their elimination of the Stars in six games in the same series last season.
Edmonton quickly took control in Game 5, scoring two goals within the first seven minutes (Corey Perry and Mattias Janmark) and forcing Dallas goaltender Jake Oettinger out of the game after facing only two shots. The Oilers led 3-1 after the first period. Throughout the game, Edmonton`s offense consistently responded to Dallas`s goals, preventing the Stars from building momentum. Furthermore, the Oilers` defense was effective in shutting down their opponent in the third period.
Their next challenge is a rematch against the Florida Panthers, who defeated them in the previous Final. Last season, the Oilers were swept in the first three games by the Panthers before mounting a comeback to force Game 7, ultimately losing the championship.
In the expansion era (since 1967-68), only four times have the same two teams met in the Stanley Cup Final in back-to-back seasons. The most recent occurrence was in 2008 and 2009, when the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins split the series, with the Penguins winning the latter for Sidney Crosby`s first Cup.
The last team to defeat the same opponent in consecutive Stanley Cup Finals was the Montreal Canadiens, who beat the Boston Bruins in 1977 and 1978.
Florida will likely need to elevate their game compared to last season to overcome this Oilers team. Edmonton has shown significant improvement, particularly in defensive skill and playoff composure.
Edmonton Oilers: Analysis and Grade (B+)
The Oilers wasted no time establishing dominance in Game 5. Corey Perry scored a power-play goal less than three minutes in on their first shot. Mattias Janmark capitalized on a defensive lapse by the Stars shortly after to double the lead. Jeff Skinner then scored his first career playoff goal against the newly substituted goalie, Casey DeSmith, putting Edmonton up 3-0. This rapid start was remarkable.
Despite playing without Zach Hyman, the Oilers` depth proved effective immediately.
However, the Stars didn`t give up easily. A turnover by Brett Kulak resulted in a goal for Jason Robertson, cutting the lead to 3-1. Edmonton`s penalty kill was tested in the second period. While they successfully killed Kulak`s minor penalty, a subsequent infraction by Mattias Ekholm led to a goal by Roope Hintz, bringing Dallas within one goal.
From that point on, the Oilers responded to every challenge. Connor McDavid scored on a breakaway just over two minutes after Hintz`s goal. When Jason Robertson scored again early in the third period to make it 4-3, Evander Kane restored the two-goal advantage just over two minutes later.
While perhaps not their best game of the series, the Oilers` ability to recover from every setback demonstrated their strength since losing Game 1. Dallas`s strong power play in that initial game seemed to ignite something in Edmonton, and they were resolute in securing the win.
Dallas Stars: Analysis and Grade (C-)
Dallas`s start to the game was abysmal, earning an `F`. They failed to score first in any game of the series. A quick penalty by rookie Mavrik Bourque (playing his first game since Game 4 vs. Colorado) led directly to Corey Perry`s power-play goal less than two minutes into the game.
Five minutes later, with the team seemingly unprepared, Oettinger was beaten by Mattias Janmark on a partial breakaway. Coach Pete DeBoer then made a desperate move, pulling Oettinger just over seven minutes into the game after he allowed two goals on two shots. The substitute, Casey DeSmith, faced immediate pressure from the Oilers until Jeff Skinner scored his first career playoff goal (in his second playoff game after 1,078 regular-season games), giving Edmonton a 3-0 lead.
Despite their efforts to recover, this disastrous start was the defining moment for Dallas in Game 5 and mirrored a pattern seen throughout the series: the Stars would achieve something positive while trying to dig out of a hole, only to immediately lose momentum. For example, Hintz scored to make it 3-2, but McDavid scored two minutes later. Robertson scored his second goal to make it 4-3, and Kane scored off Esa Lindell less than three minutes after that to re-establish a two-goal lead.
The Stars overcame significant challenges to reach their third consecutive Western Conference Final. They eliminated the Colorado Avalanche in seven games despite missing key players like Robertson and Miro Heiskanen, and they also defeated the Presidents` Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets in six games.
A generous interpretation of their elimination suggests that the Stars played well enough to win more games, but unfortunate puck luck combined with a strong defensive effort by Edmonton and solid goaltending from Stuart Skinner ultimately led to their defeat. (The Oilers` strength in the third period was particularly notable.)
A more critical view suggests that Dallas`s star players did not perform as strongly as Edmonton`s, their supporting cast was outplayed, and Oettinger was outdueled by Skinner before being replaced.
Regardless of the perspective, the outcome is the same: the Stars fell short of the Stanley Cup Final for the third straight year under Coach DeBoer, despite arguably having their most talented roster during this period. The team`s response and potential roster changes under GM Jim Nill will be interesting to observe.
Three Stars of Game 5
1. The `Hope-Killing` Oilers
Edmonton`s rapid start built a 3-0 lead in the first period. Whenever Dallas managed to score and gain hope, the Oilers immediately responded. This happened when Connor McDavid scored on a breakaway after Dallas cut the lead to one, and again when Evander Kane scored right after Jason Robertson made it 4-3. Edmonton consistently found ways to extinguish any Stars momentum.
2. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl (Oilers)
Both players recorded two points in the series-clinching Game 5 victory. They now each have three playoff runs with 25 or more points, ranking fourth in NHL history, trailing only Mark Messier (6), Wayne Gretzky (6), and Jari Kurri (5).
3. Jeff Skinner (Oilers)
Game 5 was only Jeff Skinner`s second career playoff game, stepping in due to Zach Hyman`s absence. He holds the unique distinction of being the only NHL player to play over 1,000 regular-season games before making his postseason debut. He scored his first career playoff goal in the first period, making it 3-0 – a truly memorable moment.
Big Questions Moving Forward
How Will Zach Hyman`s Absence Impact the Oilers in the Final vs. Florida?
The Florida Panthers are known for their physical style of play. Zach Hyman was a key player for Edmonton, leading the postseason in hits (111 in 15 games) and being one of their most effective forwards, often playing with McDavid and contributing to special teams.
Even though the Oilers won Game 5 against Dallas without him, Hyman`s absence creates a significant void against the Panthers. Hyman had two goals and four points in the Final last year and was even more productive in this year`s playoffs.
Kris Knoblauch inserted Jeff Skinner for Game 5, which worked adequately. However, the question remains if Skinner is the optimal replacement for Game 1 against a different opponent like Florida.
The Stanley Cup Final is a series where Hyman`s specific skills would be extremely valuable. Since he won`t be available, how the Oilers adapt will be crucial to whether they achieve a different outcome than last season.
Is This Pete DeBoer`s Last Season Coaching the Stars?
When Pete DeBoer took over as coach in 2022, replacing Rick Bowness, he reportedly signed a four-year contract. In his first three seasons in Dallas, he has guided the team to three consecutive Western Conference Finals.
A common criticism of DeBoer has been his inability to lead teams to a championship. He reached the Stanley Cup Final with the New Jersey Devils (2012) and San Jose Sharks (2016) but did not win either time. Since the 2018-19 season, DeBoer`s teams have lost in the conference finals six times in eight years.
It`s difficult to dismiss his success in the regular season (a .665 points percentage in Dallas, his best coaching record) or the achievement of reaching three straight conference finals. However, the team has consistently fallen short of the Final itself.
He couldn`t find a way to push the Stars past the conference final stage this time, and his decision to pull Oettinger early in Game 5 will be debated.
The ultimate decision for General Manager Jim Nill is whether another coach could elevate this team further, or if they should continue with DeBoer while making roster adjustments.
Rupert Hartwell 
Benedict Kingsley