(Dallas) The Stars and Oilers have vastly different views at this point in the Western final, tied 1-1.
Edmonton believes they missed a golden chance to lead 2-0.
Dallas was resilient again before hitting the road, where the club has been comfortable all season.
“If you told me we’d be 1-1 after two games there, we would have taken it,” Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said. It becomes more bitter when you win a match and then you lose. »
The third game will be presented Monday evening in Alberta.
The Stars prevailed at Rogers Place in November, when Knoblauch was not yet in office.
Their 5-1 road record in the playoffs is the best of the clubs still in contention.
In the previous two rounds, they had the upper hand away from home in Games 3 and 4 – en route to eliminating the cup winners in 2022 and 2023.
“We have a lot of character. Our young people play with enthusiasm for the veterans and the older ones find the energy to support the young players,” said Ryan Suter.
A 39-year-old defenseman, he has played 1,444 regular season games – a record for hockey players who have not won a Stanley Cup.
“Everyone is going in the same direction,” Suter added. Nothing really shakes us. If we are two goals behind, we find a way to close the gap. If you are going through a bad period, you need to bounce back without delay. »
When Mason Marchment broke the deadlock early in the third period in Game 2, the Stars made it difficult for the Oilers to attempt a comeback.
Edmonton had just five shots on goal in the third period, going nearly 12 minutes without collecting one.
Dallas blocked seven shots and 14 of their 31 hits came after their second goal in this 3-1 win.
Leon Draisaitl had provided at least one point in the Oilers’ 13 playoff games before being shut out on Saturday – he only had two shots in the game, in fact.
Connor McDavid shot just once, early in the game.
“The Stars are a good team and they play good defense,” McDavid said. They did a good job blocking pass lanes and shot lanes. »