A photo taken from the Oilers vs the Stars match.
The Edmonton Oilers let a two-goal lead slip away in a dramatic 4-3 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night. Wyatt Johnston was the hero for Dallas, assisting three times before scoring the game-winning shootout goal. This marked the teams’ first meeting since Edmonton eliminated Dallas in the Western Conference Final for the second consecutive season.
Rantanen Leads Stars’ Comeback
Mikko Rantanen shined for the Stars, scoring twice and adding an assist. His performance kept Dallas in the game after the Oilers jumped out to a fast start.
Oilers Start Strong
Edmonton opened the game with authority, scoring two goals within the first 7:07. Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid, and Vasily Podkolzin found the net, giving the Oilers an early edge despite playing their third game in four days.
Goalie Showdown
Casey DeSmith made 23 saves and stopped two of three shots in the shootout for Dallas. Jake Oettinger did not play after the birth of his first child, leaving the Stars to rely on DeSmith. Stuart Skinner, who helped Edmonton beat Dallas in the last two Western finals, made 24 saves, keeping the game competitive.
McDavid Shines
Connor McDavid assisted on Draisaitl’s power-play goal in the second period from about 30 feet out. He later scored to put the Oilers ahead 3-1 at 7:51 of the third period. With four points and 17 assists this season, McDavid joined Sidney Crosby as the only active players to reach 20 points within the first 15 games seven times.
Stars Respond Quickly
Dallas responded immediately after McDavid’s goal. Rantanen scored just 46 seconds later, marking his second goal of the night, seventh of the season, and 301st of his career. Miro Heiskanen later tied the game at 3-3 with 7:40 left in regulation, capitalizing on a puck that ricocheted off the back wall.
Playoff Rematch Energy
This game carried extra intensity, being a rematch of last year’s Western Conference Final. Glen Gulutzan, who spent seven seasons as an Oilers assistant, was on the Stars’ bench as head coach, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the matchup.
Oilers’ Previous Dominance
The Oilers had wrapped up the previous West final with a 6-3 victory in Dallas on May 29. Edmonton eliminated Dallas in six games in 2024, but this game showed that the Stars were ready to respond this season.
Looking Ahead
The Oilers will aim to bounce back after surrendering a two-goal lead and losing in a shootout. Meanwhile, the Stars hope Johnston’s heroics signal a strong start to the season, especially in matchups against their Western Conference rivals.
