The Edmonton Oilers had control in Game 1 of the Western Conference final, until they didn’t. Despite holding a two-goal lead heading into the final period, Edmonton couldn’t hold off the surging Dallas Stars, who scored five unanswered goals to steal a 6-3 win at American Airlines Center.
The loss puts the Oilers down 1-0 in the best-of-seven series and leaves them with plenty to fix — especially on the penalty kill and when it comes to staying disciplined.
Chris Pronger Shares Thoughts on Oilers vs. Stars Game 1
After the final whistle, Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Pronger didn’t hold back on social media. His message to the Oilers was blunt: stop taking unnecessary penalties.
While he acknowledged stretches where Edmonton played well, Pronger stressed the need for a full, composed effort across all 60 minutes.
Gut wrenching loss for #LetsGoOilers last night but they have the template on how they need to play for 60 mins + to beat the Stars. I am looking for them to clean up the discipline issues in Game 2 to go back to EDM with a split in the series.
— Chris Pronger (@chrispronger)
His takeaway? Stay sharp, stay out of the box, and aim to return home with a split.
For most of the night, Edmonton looked calm and in control, building a 3-1 lead late in the second period. But that grip slipped fast, and mistakes piled up. Penalties and defensive breakdowns gave Dallas an opening, and they didn’t miss.
Discipline Fails as Stars Exploit Power Plays
What worked for Edmonton early unraveled in the third. The Oilers’ physical, high-energy approach backfired as three straight penalties helped the Stars storm back.
Just 32 seconds into the final period, Miro Heiskanen trimmed the lead, and Dallas never looked back. Mikael Granlund and Matt Duchene followed with power-play goals, flipping the game.
Dallas kept the pressure on. Tyler Seguin added his second goal of the night to extend the lead, and Esa Lindell sealed it with an empty-netter. The Stars, who had struggled on the man advantage in past playoff matchups with Edmonton, looked much sharper this time around.
For the Oilers, the concern is clear. Their penalty kill was already among the weakest left in the playoffs. Giving up three power-play goals in under six minutes only confirmed the problem.
MORE: Oilers Fans Point to Key Mistakes After Game 1 Loss to Stars
It wasn’t all bad. Leon Draisaitl had a strong outing with a goal and two assists, and Connor McDavid added two more assists. Offensively, Edmonton’s stars showed up. But in the key moments, execution broke down, particularly on defense.
Goaltender Stuart Skinner, who had back-to-back shutouts in the last round, couldn’t hold off Dallas this time. He stopped 22 of 27 shots but didn’t get much help during the third-period collapse. The defensive structure fell apart, and Dallas took full advantage.
Now down 1-0 in the series, Edmonton knows what needs to change. They can’t afford another penalty-filled game against a Dallas team with a suddenly dangerous power play. Staying out of the box and tightening up in their own zone are top priorities.
The Oilers have bounced back before, and they’ll need to do it again. Game 2 is Friday, May 23, in Dallas. If Edmonton wants to avoid heading home in a 2-0 hole, they’ll have to play a full 60 minutes.