The Dallas Stars need a rebound effort when they hit the road to face the Edmonton Oilers for Sunday afternoon’s Game 3 of the Western Conference finals.
The series is tied 1-1, with the Stars claiming a 6-3 comeback victory in the opener before Edmonton skated to a 3-0 win on Friday to even it.
But even though his team was victorious in Game 1 and blanked in the follow-up on home ice, Stars coach Pete DeBoer is not looking for a full-scale change.
“Regardless of the score, I thought our game was better than in Game 1,” DeBoer said Saturday before his team headed north. “Our five-on-five game was better. … Late in the second period, it’s 1-0 and we had chances to tie it up at different points.”
Dallas posted a 2-4 road record in the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs, while the Oilers own a 4-1 mark at home.
DeBoer had no update on the status of top-line center Roope Hintz, who left early in the third period of Friday’s clash after being slashed in the foot by Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse.
Regardless of whether Hintz plays, the Stars must do a better job of taking control earlier in the game — although that is no easy feat against the high-octane Oilers. Dallas would help its cause by hitting the scoreboard first, something the Stars have done just three times in 15 playoff games.
“That’s a focus for next game,” Dallas forward Wyatt Johnston said. “The focus for every game is to get that first goal. We can do a better job of that.”
The Oilers will hit the ice in their own arena with a frenzied crowd behind them and plenty of momentum.
Edmonton has lost only two of its last 11 playoff games, not only because of its offensive ability but also because this year’s squad has improved immensely defensively.
Goaltender Stuart Skinner has deservedly been receiving praise for posting shutouts in three of the last four games, especially after struggling mightily at the start of the playoffs. But the team has made his job all the easier by limiting chances against a deep Dallas team as Edmonton forced 27 Dallas turnovers in Game 2.
“We needed a good effort to get that win,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said on Saturday when looking back at the win the night before. “There’s a lot of things I like, the fact we won the special teams in Game 2 with the power-play goal and the penalty kill looked good. Obviously Stuart Skinner’s play has been tremendous … and we’re getting contributions from everyone.”
Now to see how much of that can return to Edmonton for the next two games.
“The players know what’s important. They’re a mature group and know what’s at stake and want it,” Knoblauch said.
Adding a wrinkle is the fact they have a 1 p.m. start local time. Add in the travel after playing on Friday, and it is a quick turnaround.
“I don’t think I’ve ever played a playoff matinee game,” Oilers forward Zach Hyman said. “Everyone’s in the same boat. We’ve got to come out strong. We’re at home. The crowd will be excited. We’ll be ready. There’s no excuses.”
–Field Level Media
