EDMONTON, Alberta — In an intense faceoff on Saturday night, the Edmonton Oilers managed to outlast the Dallas Stars with a close 5-4 victory. Zach Hyman was pivotal in the Oilers’ success, contributing two goals and an assist to solidify their triumph.
Connor McDavid stood out with a goal and an assist, while contributions from Viktor Arvidsson and Connor Brown helped secure Edmonton’s consecutive wins, making it three victories in their last four games. Goalie Stuart Skinner was crucial in the net, making 22 saves, although Edmonton nearly squandered a comfortable 5-1 advantage at the end of the second period.
The newly acquired Mikko Rantanen, making his debut for Dallas after a trade deadline move, made his mark by notching a goal and an assist. Despite their efforts, this defeat snapped the Stars’ four-game winning streak. Scorers for Dallas also included Wyatt Johnston, Jamie Benn, and Matt Dumba, while Jake Oettinger managed to stop 22 shots between the pipes.
An unfortunate incident saw Stars forward Roope Hintz struck in the face by a puck during the second period, and he was unable to return to the game, leaving a mark in both teams’ performance.
Rantanen, donning No. 96 following his trade from Carolina, quickly adapted by assisting Johnston’s goal and subsequently scoring his 28th of the season during a power play in the third period. His instrumental play pointed to a promising future for Dallas.
Meanwhile, Edmonton’s defenseman Jake Walman, another fresh addition wearing No. 96, brought immediate energy in his first appearance since coming from San Jose. His impressive long-range pass provided the opportunity for Hyman’s breakaway goal.
One of the game’s most thrilling moments was McDavid’s dazzling goal five minutes into the second period, where he neatly maneuvered past Dallas’ Ilya Lyubushkin for a solo breakaway, marking his 24th goal. This feat also saw McDavid reaching the 80-point mark for the ninth straight season, a testament to his consistency with only legends like Wayne Gretzky, Dale Hawerchuk, and Phil Esposito surpassing such streaks.
Leon Draisaitl’s assist on Edmonton’s third goal extended his personal streak to 14 games, tying the highest of his career. This consistency in performance was vital to Edmonton’s recent success.
Looking ahead, the Stars are set to encounter Vancouver in their next matchup on Sunday, while the Oilers are preparing for a four-game road journey beginning in Buffalo on Monday.
