Stars secure the series lead after Game 1 of the 2025 Western Conference Final (1-0)
- Lyanna Yeow
- May 21, 2025
- 4 min read
Dallas Stars vs. Edmonton Oilers (GAME 1)
The Dallas Stars won Game 1 in the Western Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers on May 21, 2025. This matchup took place at American Airlines Center and ended with a final score of 6-3 in the Stars' favor. Read about what led to the Stars’ win, the standout players of each team, stats, and when their next game is scheduled!
Game Recap
Despite both teams having great scoring chances throughout the beginning of the first period, the game remained scoreless due to the impressive early saves by goaltenders #29 Jake Oettinger (Stars) and #74 Stuart Skinner (Oilers). It wasn’t until midway through the period when the first goal of the game was scored. After shutting down the Stars' power play unit, #29 Leon Draisaitl gave the Oilers a 1-0 lead with a snapshot that beat #29 Oettinger. The Stars answered back during the last five minutes of the first period after #91 Tyler Seguin capitalized on an Oilers giveaway and buried the puck into the back of the net (1-1). Both goaltenders remained strong in net for the remainder of the first period which kept the game 1-1 going into the second period.
The Oilers continued their goal scoring momentum and made it a 3-1 game with back-to-back goals scored early in the second period. The Oilers’ second goal of the game was a power play goal scored ix minutes into the second period by #93 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2-1). The Oilers then extended their lead, 3-1 with a goal scored by #2 Evan Bouchard a minute and forty seconds after their previous goal. #74 Skinner made a couple remarkable saves for the Oilers which helped them to maintain their two-goal lead and keep the Stars scoreless during their man-advantage late in the second period.
The last period of regulation started off with the remaining minute and two seconds of the Stars’ power play opportunity which resulted in a successful power play goal scored by #4 Miro Heiskanen (3-2). The Stars continued to maintain control of the third period with back-to-back power play goals scored by #64 Mikael Granlund and #95 Matt Duchene. The first power play goal of the third period was recorded by #64 Granlund who scored the Stars’ game-tying goal fifty-eight seconds into their man-advantage (3-3). Two minutes after the game-tying goal, #95 Duchene scored a power play goal a minute and eleven seconds into their power play opportunity (4-3). Although the Oilers were able to kill off a Stars power play midway through the third period, this did not stop the Stars from extending their lead by three-goals after #91 Seguin tipped in #9 Sam Steel’s shot (5-3) and #23 Elsa Lindell successfully scored on the Oilers' empty net (6-3). In the end, Stars’ goaltender, #29 Oettinger, was able to shut down the Oilers in their final push during the few minutes left in regulation and secured the Stars’ 6-3 win in Game 1 of this series.
The standout players
Dallas Stars
Edmonton Oilers
Stats
The Stars slightly outshot the Oilers (28 SOG vs. 27 SOG)
The Oilers delivered more hits than the Stars (44 hits vs. 34 hits)
The Stars won more faceoffs than the Oilers (62.1% vs. 37.9%)
The Stars had a higher power play success rate than the Oilers (75 PP% vs. 33.3 PP%)
SUMMARY: Despite both teams having relatively even puck possession throughout Game 1 and the Oilers playing a more physical game, the Stars’ goaltending and overall ability to capitalize on their scoring chances/man-advantages helped them to secure their 1-0 series lead.
Upcoming Games
GAME 2
When: May 23, 2025 at 5:00 PM PST
Where: American Airlines Center
Watch: ESPN, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS
GAME 3
When: May 25, 2025 at 1:00 PM PST
Where: Rogers Place
Watch: SN, CBC, TVAS, ABC, ESPN+
GAME 4
When: May 27, 2025 at 5:00 PM PST
Where: Rogers Place
Watch: SN, CBC, TVAS, ESPN, ESPN+
NOTE: Games 5-7 will be scheduled if necessary
GAME 5
When: May 29, 2025 at 5:00 PM PST
Where: American Airlines Center
Watch: ESPN, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS
GAME 6
When: May 29, 2025 at 5:00 PM PST
Where: Rogers Place
Watch: SN, CBC, TVAS, ABC, ESPN+
GAME 7
When: June 2, 2025 at 5:00 PM PST
Where: American Airlines Center
Watch: ESPN, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS
The Dallas Stars lead 1-0 in WCF of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers
Who do you think is going to win Game 2?
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Come back for the next game recap of the Western Conference Finals!
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