Oilers Dominate Stars, Lead 3-1 in West Finals/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Edmonton Oilers defeat Dallas Stars 4-1 in Game 4. Draisaitl and Perry each score power-play goals. Oilers lead Western Conference Final series 3-1.
Oilers vs Stars Game 4 + Quick Looks
- Series Edge: Oilers lead series 3-1 after winning three straight.
- Historic Night: Leon Draisaitl and Corey Perry each scored on the power play.
- Skinner Steps Up: Goalie Stuart Skinner made 28 crucial saves for Edmonton.
- Nugent-Hopkins Magic: Four straight multi-point games, nine points in series.
- Stars Stumble: Dallas faces elimination with Game 5 at home.
- Injury Watch: Zach Hyman exits after hard hit, doesn’t return.
- Rare Feat: Perry becomes fifth player 40+ to score in conference final.
Deep Look: Oilers Close In on Stanley Cup Finals with Game 4 Win
EDMONTON (AP) — The Edmonton Oilers surged to a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Dallas Stars Tuesday night with a 4-1 win in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final, thanks to elite special teams, a brilliant goaltending display from Stuart Skinner, and a milestone performance by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
Leon Draisaitl and Corey Perry each tallied a power-play goal and an assist to lead the offensive charge, while Kasperi Kapanen and Adam Henrique secured the result with empty-net goals in the final minutes.
With the win, the Oilers are just one victory away from returning to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2006.
“It wasn’t easy at all,” Draisaitl said postgame. “Dallas is one of the last four teams standing for a reason, and they had their push. But we managed the momentum swings, and Stu [Skinner] was outstanding.”
Skinner Anchors Oilers’ Defense
Goaltender Stuart Skinner stopped 28 shots to improve to 9-0 in Game 4s over the past three playoff campaigns.
“How we played as a team tonight shows courage,” Skinner said. “From blocking shots to backchecking hard—this win was earned.”
Special Teams Deliver Again
Draisaitl opened the scoring in the first period on a tough-angle one-timer during a power play set up by Nugent-Hopkins. After Jason Robertson equalized for Dallas in the second with a crisp power-play tally of his own, Corey Perry responded minutes later on another man advantage, assisted again by Nugent-Hopkins.
Perry’s goal marked his sixth of the playoffs and made him only the fifth player aged 40 or older to score in a conference final.
Nugent-Hopkins, meanwhile, extended his playoff hot streak with his fourth straight multi-point game, becoming the first player in 35 years to do so in a conference final. He also became the first Oiler to record nine or more points through four conference final games since Wayne Gretzky in 1988.
Hyman Injury Raises Concern
Edmonton’s momentum was briefly interrupted when forward Zach Hyman exited in the first period after a heavy open-ice hit by Dallas’ Mason Marchment. Hyman did not return, and his status for Game 5 remains uncertain.
Stars Face Elimination
Despite Jake Oettinger‘s 29 saves, Dallas failed to contain Edmonton’s firepower and now trails 3-1 in the series for the second consecutive year against the Oilers. The Stars, who reached the West Final by eliminating Vegas and Colorado, now face elimination at home in Game 5.
“We need to reset. It’s not over,” said Stars forward Mikko Rantanen, who has gone seven games without scoring after netting nine goals in his previous six. “We’re not thinking about the series anymore—just one game, one win.”
Stars forward Roope Hintz returned to the lineup after missing Game 3 with a foot injury. He was slashed in Game 2 by Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse but was visibly slowed during Game 4.
Looking Ahead
The series now shifts back to Dallas for Game 5, where the Stars will attempt to stave off elimination. Edmonton, riding high on confidence and offensive depth, will aim to close out the series and secure a shot at their first Stanley Cup title in nearly two decades.
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