DALLAS — The Dallas Stars delivered a stunning third-period comeback to defeat the Edmonton Oilers 6–3 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final on Thursday night, flipping a two-goal deficit into a commanding series-opening victory at American Airlines Center.
Through two periods, the Oilers looked firmly in control. Leon Draisaitl continued his remarkable postseason production with a goal and two assists, while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Connor McDavid each posted multi-point nights to push Edmonton ahead 3–1. The Oilers dictated pace, outshot the Stars, and looked poised to steal the opening game on the road.
But everything unraveled in the third.
Dallas erupted for five unanswered goals in the final frame, including three on the power play in a blistering 5:26 stretch that left the Oilers stunned and the home crowd roaring. Tyler Seguin was the catalyst, scoring twice and assisting once during the rally. Miro Heiskanen opened the surge with a laser from the point, followed by Mikael Granlund capitalizing on a rebound in front. Moments later, Seguin’s second goal — a power-play marker off a perfect feed from Jamie Benn — gave Dallas a 5–3 lead and sealed the momentum swing. Matt Duchene added an empty-netter to cap the comeback.
Goaltender Jake Oettinger quietly played a key role in holding off the Oilers during their second-period surge, finishing with 24 saves. His calm presence gave the Stars time to regroup and ultimately dominate the final 20 minutes. The Stars’ penalty kill struggled early but turned opportunistic when it mattered most, punishing two critical Edmonton penalties in the third that swung the game’s outcome.
The Oilers, who looked sharp and composed for the first two periods, failed to maintain their discipline. Defensive lapses and poorly timed penalties allowed Dallas to claw back and ultimately seize the game. Head coach Kris Knoblauch acknowledged his team’s breakdowns, noting, “We played two really strong periods, but you have to finish. At this stage, that’s the difference.”
For Dallas, the win sends a clear message: this is a team capable of adapting and striking quickly. Peter DeBoer’s squad showed veteran poise and lethal special teams execution in the highest-leverage moments. Seguin, long considered one of Dallas’s core leaders, delivered perhaps his most impactful postseason performance in years.
Game 2 is scheduled for Friday night in Dallas, where the Oilers will look to regroup and avoid heading back to Edmonton trailing 0–2 in the series. The pressure now shifts squarely to McDavid and company, who will need to respond quickly in a series that promises more fireworks.
