Stars Score Three Power-Play Goals in 5½ Minutes Early in Third, Rally to Beat Oilers 6-3 in Game 1
DALLAS — The Dallas Stars electrified the crowd at American Airlines Center Wednesday night with a stunning third-period surge, scoring three power-play goals in just five and a half minutes to overcome an early deficit and rally past the Edmonton Oilers 6-3 in Game 1 of their playoff series.
Trailing 2-1 entering the final frame, the Stars exploded offensively, capitalizing on key penalties to seize control and ignite momentum. Their precision and relentless pressure during the power plays proved decisive, turning the tide of the game and setting the tone for the rest of the series.
The scoring barrage began just 1:15 into the third period when Roope Hintz blasted a slap shot from the left circle, beating Oilers’ goalie Stuart Skinner to tie the game at 2-2. The crowd erupted as Dallas gained new life.
Less than two minutes later, with Edmonton shorthanded again, captain Jamie Benn fired a quick wrist shot from the top of the slot to give the Stars their first lead at 3-2. Benn’s leadership on the ice was evident as he helped orchestrate the power-play unit’s crisp puck movement.
The Stars weren’t finished. At 6:45, John Klingberg fired a rocket from the point on another power play, which deflected off an Oilers defender and into the net, extending Dallas’ lead to 4-2. The quick-fire sequence left Edmonton reeling and forced a timeout to regroup.
Edmonton battled back with a goal from Connor McDavid at 10:12 to cut the deficit to 4-3, but Dallas’ depth proved too much. Jason Robertson and Joe Pavelski each added insurance goals in the final minutes, sealing the 6-3 victory.
Stars’ head coach Peter DeBoer praised his team’s resilience and special teams execution. “Our power play was the difference tonight. We stuck with it, stayed patient, and when the chances came, we made them count,” he said. “That’s the kind of hockey we need to play in this series.”
Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft acknowledged the tough stretch in the third. “We gave up some costly penalties at a bad time, and they took advantage. We’ll learn from this and come back strong in Game 2.”
Dallas now takes a 1-0 series lead heading to Edmonton for Game 2 on Friday night, energized by their late-game surge and hungry to keep the momentum going.
Leave a Reply