Oilers make a statement with 3-0 win in Game 2: Grades, takeaways for both teams

The Edmonton Oilers emphatically atoned for letting Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals slip away with a dominating 3-0 Game 2 win to even the series.

Stuart Skinner continued to be the most boom-or-bust player in the postseason. He gave up 20 goals and didn't have a save percentage better than .833 in four losses. His three wins? All shutouts, becoming just the second Edmonton goalie in franchise history to record three of them in a single playoff year (the other was Curtis Joseph in 1998).

Once again, the Oilers flexed their impressive depth. The big boys combined on their power-play goal in the first period, with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins getting the tally on assists from Evan Bouchard and Leon Draisaitl. The other two non-empty netters: Brett Kulak's first of the playoffs, snapping his own rebound past Jake Oettinger; and Connor Brown, continuing an incredible playoff with his fifth goal in the second period.

(Of course, the highlight of his night was avoiding a calamitous injury when Mikael Granlund's skate nearly clipped his face.)

How did both teams perform? What are the big questions facing each team ahead of Game 3 on Sunday afternoon in Edmonton? Here's our breakdown of the Oilers' Game 2 win.

Dallas Stars
Grade: C-

As I warned after Game 1: Not every game of the Western Conference finals was going to have a third-period implosion by the Oilers, nor the power-play success the Stars had to rally for that win.

Edmonton continued to roll at 5-on-5, and won the special teams battle. The Stars weren't on their details tonight. There were too many shots that didn't get through to Stuart Skinner, and there were not enough moments that truly tested the Edmonton goalie -- outside of a third-period shorthanded breakaway that Wyatt Johnston couldn't convert, extending his drought to one point in eight games.

Dallas had more giveaways through two periods (21) than they had in any entire game of the 2025 postseason. That's gift-wrapping the game to Edmonton. The Oilers were going to bring some desperation after losing Game 1, and Dallas didn't come close to answering that effort or execution. -- Greg Wyshynski

Edmonton Oilers
Grade: A

Edmonton got the exact start it wanted in Game 2 -- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins tallied an early power-play goal that felt like exacting revenge on that costly, penalty-filled third period the Oilers handed Dallas in Game 1. Then Edmonton tempted fate handing the Stars a power play -- but neutralized it with an excellent kill. That was a confidence booster.

The Oilers followed up by holding Dallas at bay in the second frame, where Skinner was particularly strong as the Stars pushed for an equalizer. That success set Edmonton up to extend their lead with a pair of goals in just 1:13, off a howitzer from Brett Kulak and a tip from Connor Brown. Edmonton exorcised a few more demons by killing off the Stars' power-play opportunities in the third period.

This was a low-shot affair on both sides, with only three registered from both sides by midway through the frame, and it was clear how tight Edmonton was trying to be in limiting Dallas' chances. It worked in the end. And a round of applause for Skinner, who rebounded from a brutal performance in the final 20 minutes of Game 1 to be a true difference-maker in getting Edmonton tied up and recording his third shutout in four games. -- Kristen Shilton

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Ryan Nugent-Hopkins tips in opening goal for Oilers

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins buries the goal for Edmonton to give the Oilers an early 1-0 lead.

Three Stars of Game 2

1. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
C, Oilers

The Nuge had a goal and an assist. His power-play goal to open the scoring ended up being the game-winner. He has multi-point games in both games of this series, and both of the Oilers' power-play goals through two games.

2. Stuart Skinner
G, Oilers

Skinner had 25 saves for his third shutout of the postseason, joining Curtis Joseph in 1998 as the only two Oilers goalies with three clean sheets in a single postseason.

3. Bouncing back

The Oilers flushed an abysmal third period in Game 1 to control Game 2 virtually for the entire 60 minutes, en route to a 3-0 victory to even the series at one game apiece heading back to Edmonton for Games 3 and 4. -- Arda Öcal

Players to watch in Game 3

Mikko Rantanen
RW, Stars

The Stars winger now shares the postseason scoring lead with McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, at 20 points, thanks to a four-game stretch in which he's generated only one point -- a power-play assist in Game 1 of this series. Rantanen earned all of his Conn Smythe hype by carrying the Stars through their first-round win over the Colorado Avalanche, and then posting two three-point games in wins over the Winnipeg Jets.

But in Game 2, he had as many shot attempts as he did giveaways (three). Neither are good numbers for the Stars. With Roope Hintz leaving Game 2 with an injury, there are even more question marks about their top line, which hasn't produced an even-strength goal since Game 4 against the Jets. -- Wyshynski

Connor McDavid
C, Oilers

Let's be honest; fans are always watching for McDavid, naturally. But for all McDavid's marvellous moves and powerful playmaking, he hasn't been a goal-scoring threat for Edmonton. McDavid has just three goals (with 20 points) in these playoffs, and 11 goals his last 38 postseason contests.

There's no discounting McDavid's impact on the Oilers' game, but there's a need to see him light the lamp, too. Right now, McDavid is sitting on just one goal since Game 3 of Edmonton's first-round series against Los Angeles. The Oilers are matching up well -- and maybe even getting the better of -- the Stars at 5-on-5 in the series so far. And McDavid did appear to ring the iron at least once in Game 2.

If McDavid can put more doubt in Dallas by slipping one (or more) past Jake Oettinger it could ignite Edmonton's game further -- and nothing would get the Oilers' home crowd fired up quite like seeing the captain go off. -- Shilton

Big questions for Game 3

What's the status of Roope Hintz?

The Stars lost their top center in the third period after a nasty slash to the top of the skate by Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse. Hintz crumpled to the ice, clutching his left leg and needed help leaving the playing surface just 3:40 into the final period.

Nurse received only a minor penalty after the officials reviewed it -- and the Department of Player Safety will review it further.

Losing Hintz, or having him diminished, would be a huge blow to Dallas, as the veteran Finn has five goals and six assists in 14 games, also playing on the Stars' power play and penalty kill. -- Wyshynski

Can Mattias Ekholm get back in the lineup?

The Oilers should be feeling good as the series shifts to their home ice. Getting one of the club's top defensemen back in the process would be an enormous boost for the Oilers now, too.

Ekholm has been sidelined with an undisclosed injury since mid-April, missing all of the Oilers' postseason run to date. But he was able to return to practice on Thursday, and while he remains day-to-day, even Ekholm admitted he didn't expect to be in a position where returning sooner than later was an option.

Edmonton has leaned on Ty Emberson and Troy Stecher in Ekholm's absence, but there's no question he would strengthen their back end in a major way when he's ready to get back in. The Oilers must prepare for Dallas' response in Game 3, and having Ekholm -- who averaged 22 minutes per game in the regular season for Edmonton, while collecting nine goals and 33 points -- makes that a more manageable task. -- Shilton