Connor McDavid collected a goal and an assist to pace the host Edmonton Oilers to a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Sunday that sends them to the Stanley Cup Final.
The Oilers, who last reached the championship round in 2006, will face the Florida Panthers in a best-seven series that begins Saturday in Sunrise, Fla.
Zach Hyman also scored for the Oilers, who won three consecutive games to claim the Western Conference final in six games. Goalie Stuart Skinner made 34 saves and defenseman Evan Bouchard netted a pair of assists.
Mason Marchment replied with the lone goal for the Stars, who were the conference’s regular-season champions. Goalie Jake Oettinger stopped eight shots.
McDavid’s highlight-reel-worthy goal on a power play opened the scoring at 4:17 of the first period, converting his team’s first shot on net. The Oilers’ captain eluded a couple of defenders with slick toe drags before chipping a back-hand tally for his fifth goal of the playoffs.
Hyman added another man-advantage marker at 15:42 of the first to double the lead. McDavid slipped a pass to Hyman as he headed to the slot, and he ripped a top-corner shot for his league-best 14th goal of the postseason.
Marchment finally solved Skinner with his team’s 30th shot of the night at 9:18 of the third period. Marchment’s shot off the rush went wide, but Tyler Seguin gained possession and sent a pass for Marchment at the doorstep, and he buried it for his third goal of the playoffs.
The Stars, who were the dominant team from the drop of the puck, pushed feverishly but could not find the equalizer during a frantic finish.
Dallas failed to convert during three power-play opportunities, and failed to score a man-advantage marker during the whole series. Edmonton has successfully killed 28 short-handed situations in its last 10 postseason games.
Oilers forward Evander Kane played only a few shifts in the final two periods after sustaining an injury in the opening period. He spent the bulk of the game sitting on the bench supporting his teammates.
–Field Level Media
