The Edmonton Oilers host the Dallas Stars for Game 4 of the Western Conference Final at Rogers Place on Tuesday (May 27), looking to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series.
Related: 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Conference Finals Hub
After losing the series opener by a score of 6-3, the Oilers have rebounded for back-to-back victories, defeating Dallas by scores of 3-0 and 6-1 in Games 2 and 3, respectively.
With wins in 10 of their last 12 games, the Oilers are riding a seemingly unstoppable wave of momentum, but Dallas can’t be counted out. The Stars, after all, finished with the fourth-most points in the NHL this season. Here are the keys for Edmonton to come out on top again in Game 4.
Stay Out of the Box
It appears that Edmonton has solved its penalty kill woes. After allowing 11 power-play goals in their first eight games this postseason, the Oilers have not allowed a power-play goal in five of their last six contests, including Games 2 and 3 against Dallas.
The real key, however, might be that Edmonton is playing much more disciplined. In the last five games that the Oilers did not allow a power-play goal, Edmonton’s opponents are averaging only two power-play opportunities per game.
At 65.9%, Edmonton’s penalty-kill percentage in the 2025 Playoffs is still dreadful. But the Oilers don’t need to have the world’s greatest PK if they can continue to limit power-play chances for the opposition.
Much was made in advance of the Western Conference Final about how Edmonton is the better even-strength team, and the first three games of the series have borne that out: the Oilers are out-scoring the Stars 9-3 at five-on-five thus far.
Skinner Remains Locked In
Cutting down their penalties is one reason that the Oilers have allowed one goal or fewer in three of the last four games. Another is improved defensive play. But the biggest reason has been the efforts of goaltender Stuart Skinner, who has completely turned things around after a poor start to the postseason.
Over the last five games, Skinner has a record of 4-1 with a sparkling…
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