In a pivotal moment for the Dallas Stars, their Stanley Cup Playoff journey is hanging by a thread after a disappointing 4-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. With this defeat, the Stars find themselves down 3-1 in the series, heading back to Dallas for an essential Game 5. To keep their championship hopes alive, the Stars must win three consecutive games against a formidable opponent.
This Game 4 was a must-win for the Stars, who have found themselves in a precarious situation. This loss marks the first time this postseason that the Stars have suffered three consecutive defeats. According to statistics from MoneyPuck, had the Stars triumphed in Game 4, they would have held a 54.3% chance of winning the series. Following their loss, that probability plummeted to a mere 14.8%. Historically, teams leading a playoff series 3-1 have succeeded in winning 91% of the time, while the Stars have never come back to win a series after trailing 3-1, with their only previous close call being a Game 7 appearance against the Vancouver Canucks in 2007.
The Stars aimed to take an early lead in Game 4, a critical component for their success, as they had previously let the first goal slip in all three games of the series. They achieved a solid start, outshooting the Oilers 16-10 in the first period and drawing two penalties. However, a costly tripping penalty by Jamie Benn allowed Leon Draisaitl to score, giving the Oilers a 1-0 lead just over halfway through the first period. Although the Stars managed to tie the game early in the second, they quickly fell behind again just 3:23 later, continuing a troubling trend of not holding a lead in three consecutive games.
All season long, the Stars have boasted one of the league's top penalty kill units, finishing fourth in the regular season with an impressive 82% kill rate and improving to 83.3% in the playoffs. However, their penalty kill faltered at a critical time, as the Oilers capitalized on 2 of their 3 power play opportunities during Game 4. With no goals scored at even strength, Draisaitl's power-play goal set the tone early, and Corey Perry found himself wide open to score another, highlighting the Stars' defensive lapses. The Oilers have now scored a power-play goal in every game of this series, going 5-for-14 overall.
After a slow start to the playoffs due to a lower-body injury that sidelined him during the first round, Jason Robertson is beginning to find his rhythm. Initially placed on the fourth line, his opportunity arose when Roope Hintz was injured. In Game 4, Robertson, now back on the top line, showcased his skills by scoring his second goal of the playoffs, capitalizing on a power play. With two goals and two assists in 10 playoff games, his offensive contributions are crucial for the Stars as they seek to climb out of their current predicament.
Throughout the series, Edmonton's Stuart Skinner has emerged as a formidable barrier, consistently thwarting the Stars' scoring opportunities. In Game 4, Skinner made an impressive 28 saves, maintaining his team's edge. Meanwhile, Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger rebounded from a challenging Game 3, where he allowed six goals. Although he conceded the first goal to Draisaitl, Oettinger stopped 29 shots, providing his team with a fighting chance. Remarkably, neither goalie allowed a goal during even-strength play, underscoring the intensity of this playoff matchup.
As the Stars prepare for Game 5 back in Dallas, they must regroup and harness their strengths if they hope to overcome the Oilers and keep their championship aspirations alive.
