Edmonton Oilers achieve retaliation, securing a 3-0 victory over Dallas Stars in the second game of the Western final.
In the heart of Dallas, Connor Brown scored a crucial goal after being hit in the mouth by a skate, propelling the Edmonton Oilers to a 3-0 shutout victory over the Dallas Stars in Game 2 of the Western Conference final. With Stuart Skinner guarding the net, the Oilers evened the series, having avoided an 0-2 start on the road for the second time this postseason.
The game-changing moment came with 4:37 remaining in the second period, as Brown connected for his first goal in 36 games since February 27, capitalizing less than a minute and a half after defenseman Brett Kulak's deflection. The dramatic score came shortly after officials halted play when Brown was injured due to Mikael Granlund's skate slipping near the boards.
Dallas Stars forward Roope Hintz exited the game without putting weight on his left leg after Darnell Nurse's slash on top of Hintz's left skate early in the third. The officials reviewed the play for a potential major penalty, assessing Nurse with a minor penalty for slashing as Hintz reached for his foot in front of Edmonton's net.
Evan Bouchard provided the primary assist on Brown's goal, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who also assisted, had put the Oilers ahead 1-0 at 5:51 into the game with a power-play goal. The goal came when Nugent-Hopkins tipped Bouchard's shot, which had wobbled towards the net after deflecting off Hintz's stick.
Jake Oettinger made 22 saves for Dallas, while Skinner recorded 25 saves for his third shutout of the postseason. Skinner’s commanding performance in the second round culminated in consecutive shutouts against Vegas in the closing games.
In addition to his primary contribution, Nugent-Hopkins' power-play goal marked his second game in a row with such a score, continuing a trend established during the Oilers' championship run against Dallas in 2024's Western Final. Both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl contributed to the Oilers' offensive effort, pushing their playoff totals to 20 points apiece, tying them with Mikko Rantanen of the Stars for the league's highest playoff total.
With the series now level at 1-1, Game 3 will be hosted in Edmonton on Sunday, offering the Oilers the opportunity to grab the upper hand in the Western Conference final.
- The sports world buzzes with the news of Connor Brown's game-changing goal in hockey, scored during Game 2 of the Western Conference final against the Dallas Stars, thanks to a strong defense led by Brett Kulak and Darnell Nurse.
- With both teams demonstrating impressive play in the NHL postseason, fans anxiously await Game 3, where the Edmonton Oilers, led by stars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, will aim to seize the upper hand in the Western Conference final, currently even at 1-1 with Dallas.
