The Dallas Stars delivered a thrilling 6-3 comeback win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of the 2025 Western Conference final. Down two goals entering the final period, the Stars surged with five unanswered goals at American Airlines Center to flip the script and take the series opener.
Matt Duchene Delivers in Game 1 Turnaround vs. Oilers
Veteran forward Matt Duchene played a key role in the rally, netting his first goal of the postseason. Despite finally breaking through, Duchene was quick to credit defenseman Miro Heiskanen, who returned to the lineup with a goal and an assist.
“Getting him back is like getting two players back,” Duchene told ESPN’s Ryan S. Clark.
Matt Duchene on Miro Heiskanen: “Getting him back is like getting two players back.”
Tyler Seguin under his breath said, “So good!” #TexasHockey
— Ryan S. Clark (@ryan_s_clark)
For Duchene, this game meant more than just a win. Entering the series with five assists and no goals in 13 playoff games, the 33-year-old forward finally broke through. His go-ahead power-play goal capped a run of three straight man-advantage tallies that flipped the game early in the third period.
The goal came with a touch of comedy. Duchene’s initial shot bounced off Roope Hintz, continuing a run of bad luck. But when the puck returned to his stick, he didn’t miss the second chance.
Matt Duchene – Dallas Stars (1)*
Power Play Goal pic.twitter.com/WRD7tOO31g— NHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalVideos)
“I couldn’t believe I still had room,” Duchene said. “Kind of a funny one, but yeah, it feels good.”
It was Duchene’s first playoff goal since May 2024, when he ended Colorado’s season with a double-overtime winner. The relief was visible, and so was the hunger to build on it.
“Great for him to get one, and it was due,” Stars head coach Peter DeBoer said. “Hopefully, the floodgates open now.”
Miro Heiskanen, Duchene Lead Stars’ Stunning Surge
The final period showed the best of Dallas. Trailing 3-1, the Stars came out aggressive on the power play. Heiskanen scored just 32 seconds in, Granlund followed with the equalizer, and Duchene’s second-chance effort gave Dallas the lead.
It was only Heiskanen’s fourth game back from knee surgery, but his impact was immediate. The $67 million blue-liner didn’t miss a beat. After the game, DeBoer compared Heiskanen and forward Mikko Rantanen to Edmonton’s elite duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
The Oilers had opened strong. Draisaitl posted a goal and two assists, with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Evan Bouchard also scoring. But a series of third-period penalties proved costly.
MORE: Hall of Famer Outlines Game Plan for Oilers Following Game 1 Meltdown vs. Stars
“We let down our guard for five or six minutes,” Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner said. “It’s a tough pill to swallow.”
Tyler Seguin added two goals and an assist, and Esa Lindell iced the game with an empty-netter from nearly 200 feet. The five-goal third was Dallas’ most explosive period of the playoffs and a huge shift from last year’s WCF, where they went scoreless on 14 power plays in six games.
Game 2 is set for Friday, May 23, in Dallas. The Stars will try to keep rolling, while the Oilers look to regroup. For Duchene, he’s hoping this is just the beginning.