The Edmonton Oilers secured their place in the Stanley Cup Final with a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final at Rogers Place on Sunday. This is the Oilers’ first return to the Final since 2006, capping a remarkable turnaround season.
Connor McDavid, as he has done all season, led the charge with a power-play goal early in the first period. His dazzling toe-drag maneuver around the Stars’ top defenseman, Miro Heiskanen, was a highlight-reel moment that set the tone for the night. McDavid also assisted on Zach Hyman’s power-play goal later in the period, giving Edmonton a 2-0 lead despite being outshot by Dallas.
Stuart Skinner was the hero in net, delivering a stellar performance with 34 saves. His clutch stops, particularly a key save on Joe Pavelski’s redirected shot in the third period, preserved Edmonton’s lead and ultimately their victory.
“We’re not done here. This is just one step in the right direction for us,” said Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm. His sentiment was echoed by the team and fans alike, who erupted into chants of “We want the Cup” as the final horn sounded.
The Oilers’ path to the Final has been extraordinary. From being 10 points out of a playoff spot in late November, Edmonton transformed its season under new coach Kris Knoblauch. An eight-game winning streak turned their fortunes around, and the Oilers ended the regular season as the league’s top team in goals and goal differential.
“Connor McDavid, doing Connor McDavid things,” Skinner said of his captain’s performance. Indeed, McDavid’s leadership and skill have been pivotal to Edmonton’s success.
On the other side, the Dallas Stars, who finished the regular season with the second-best record in the NHL, struggled to find their form in the critical moments of the series. Mason Marchment scored their lone goal midway through the third period, but it was too little, too late. Despite a valiant effort and pulling goaltender Jake Oettinger for an extra attacker in the closing minutes, the Stars could not find the equalizer.
“Proud of our group. Proud of our fight. Proud of our battle,” said Stars coach Peter DeBoer. “We’re just gutted. They did leave everything out there.”
As the Oilers prepare to face the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final, the excitement in Edmonton is palpable. The Panthers, who have made the final for the third time in franchise history, will host Game 1 at Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday. Both teams avoided touching their conference championship trophies, signaling their focus on the ultimate prize.
The Oilers is just the third team in NHL history to reach the Final after being 10 points or more out of a playoff spot mid-season, joining the ranks of the 1958-59 Toronto Maple Leafs and the 2018-19 St. Louis Blues.
With McDavid at the helm and Skinner providing stability in goal, Edmonton looks to continue its Cinderella story and bring the Stanley Cup back to a city that last celebrated the championship in 1990. The journey to the Cup continues, and Edmonton is ready for the challenge.