Oilers Crush Stars, Eye Stanley Cup Revenge Against Panthers

The Edmonton Oilers are charging into their second consecutive Stanley Cup Final, fueled by a hunger for redemption after last year’s gut-wrenching Game 7 loss to the Florida Panthers. On Thursday night, they sealed their spot with a commanding 6-3 victory over the Dallas Stars in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final at American Airlines Center.

The Oilers didn’t just win—they dominated early, striking twice in the opening minutes. Corey Perry and Mattias Janmark lit the lamp on Edmonton’s first two shots, chasing Stars goalie Jake Oettinger from the net. Backup Casey DeSmith fared no better, as Jeff Skinner notched his first playoff goal to make it 3-0. The Stars clawed back to 3-2, but Connor McDavid’s dazzling breakaway goal swung the momentum for good. Evander Kane and Kasperi Kapanen sealed the deal, the latter with an empty-netter.

This year’s triumph over Dallas came quicker than last season’s six-game series, signaling Edmonton’s sharper edge. McDavid, ever the superstitious captain, made a point to touch the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl this time—unlike last year’s cautious avoidance—hoping to rewrite the ending. “Touch it this year, hopefully we win,” he quipped, reflecting on last season’s near-miraculous comeback from a 3-0 deficit against Florida.

The Stars, meanwhile, face their third straight Western Conference Final exit. Coach Peter DeBoer lamented their inability to seize control, noting McDavid’s backbreaker: “He’s not missing that. It’s game over.”

Game 1 against the Panthers kicks off Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET. Edmonton’s ready to settle the score.