Oilers’ Special Teams Collapse Sparks Stars’ Stunning Game 1 Comeback
So, Game 1 between the Edmonton Oilers and the Dallas Stars was nothing short of a roller coaster—and unfortunately for Oilers fans, it took a nosedive in the third period. What started as a promising performance from Edmonton quickly unraveled, all thanks to a brutal special teams breakdown that Dallas ruthlessly capitalized on.
into the third period, the Oilers were in control. They had a 3-1 lead and had even come within a crossbar of extending it to 4-1. It felt like they were dictating the pace, generating good offensive pressure, and keeping Dallas at bay. But things turned fast—real fast. It all began with a late second-period hooking penalty by Brett Kulak, and from there, the floodgates opened.
Dallas wasted no time. Just 32 seconds into the third, Miro Heiskanen’s point shot found the back of the net, cutting the Oilers’ lead in half. From that moment, the momentum completely flipped. Edmonton took two more penalties in quick succession—Corey Perry for high-sticking and Evander Kane for another high stick—and Dallas made them pay. Mikael Granlund tied it, and Matt Duchene gave the Stars the lead all within a span of just over five minutes. Three power-play goals. Five minutes. Game over.
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It was the first time since 1992 that Edmonton allowed three power-play goals in a single playoff period, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time. Goalie Stuart Skinner was candid postgame, saying the team “let down their guard” and that the penalties “bit us.” It was a stretch of undisciplined play, and against a team like Dallas—veteran, skilled, and opportunistic—that's fatal.
What’s even more shocking is how far the Oilers’ penalty kill has fallen off this year. Last season, they were almost unbeatable short-handed, allowing just four goals in 70 playoff attempts. This postseason? They’ve already surrendered 14 power-play goals on 37 chances—worst among the teams still alive. It’s a dramatic and painful regression that’s already putting their Cup hopes in jeopardy.
Darnell Nurse was blunt, saying, “We have to kill better. It’s as simple as that.” And he’s not wrong. Whether it's blocking shots, clearing the zone, or simply staying out of the box, the Oilers didn’t do enough of it in Game 1.
They did manage to snap a 0-for-14 power-play drought on the road with a goal by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins early in the game, which was encouraging. But their own man-advantage didn’t step up when they needed it most—late in the third when they were trying to claw their way back in.
With defenseman Mattias Ekholm still out, Edmonton’s blue line depth and penalty-killing units are clearly under pressure. His absence was glaring, and until he returns, the team has to find another gear—especially defensively.
Game 2 is coming fast, and the Oilers need to respond with urgency and discipline. If they don’t tighten up their special teams, this series could slip away as quickly as their lead did in Game 1.
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