The Dallas Stars lost to the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 in double overtime of Game 1 in the Western Conference Finals, losing their seventh straight Game 1 across multiple playoff runs.
After failing to convert on many opportunities throughout the game and giving up a flurry of goals early in the second quarter, Dallas battled back to tie the score before losing shortly into the second overtime period.
The Stars opened the game aggressively, taking three shots on goal within the first five minutes of action while also preventing the Oilers from taking any shots.
Still, none of their shots were successful, and the teams remained deadlocked at 0-0 through the first five minutes of action.
Dallas had their first opportunity for a power play against an Oilers team that had killed off 14 straight penalties in these playoffs, with left wing Evander Kane being sent into the penalty box for two minutes for a roughing penalty against Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen.
Edmonton extended their streak after preventing the Stars from scoring during the power play, as the two teams finished the first 10 minutes of the period without any goals.
The Stars once again had an advantage after Oilers left wing Dylan Holloway was forced into the penalty box for two minutes for holding, but they once again failed to convert as the teams went into the first intermission tied 0-0.
Despite sending three shots on goal in the first five minutes, the Stars managed just three more for the rest of the half as Edmonton increased their defensive pressure significantly.
The second period started poorly for the Stars as they gave up a goal less than a minute into the action. Oilers center Leon Draisaitl sent the puck past Stars goalie Jake Oettinger off an assist from defenseman Brett Kulak to give Edmonton a 1-0 lead.
This poor start continued as Oilers right wing Zach Hyman scored a few minutes later off an assist from center Connor McDavid, extending the team’s lead to 2-0 with 15:43 left in the period.
Dallas quickly responded with a goal of their own less than two minutes later when right wing Tyler Seguin cut the Oilers’ lead in half, sneaking the puck past Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner off an assist from left wing Jamie Benn.
Following the flurry of goals in its first six minutes, neither team was able to convert for the remainder of the period. They went into the final 20 minutes with the Oilers leading 2-1.
The Stars opened the third and final period aggressively, trying to tie the game back up, but multiple missed opportunities prevented them from scoring.
Despite the Stars being down a goal, the Oilers continued to attack and significantly outshot Dallas during the next 10 minutes of the game. But Oettinger kept the Stars alive with numerous saves on seemingly open attempts for the Oilers.
However, the Stars upped their aggression with less than five minutes remaining, with Seguin scoring his second goal of the game off an assist from right wing Evgenii Dadonov and left wing Jason Robertson, tying the game up 2-2 as regulation ended.
Dallas had an early opportunity for a power play in the first overtime period after Oilers center McDavid was forced out of the game for four minutes after high-sticking Stars center Matt Duchene.
But the Stars once again failed to convert on this power play, as all five of their shots on goal failed to get by Skinner.
A physical overtime period ended with neither team being able to score the game-winning goal, as the players went into their locker rooms to prepare for yet another 20 minutes of game time.
The second overtime did not last long, as the Oilers’ McDavid sent the puck past Oettinger with a backhand goal off an assist from defenseman Evan Bouchard to give Edmonton a 3-2 victory.
Dallas ended the game having failed to convert on even one of five power play opportunities, outperforming the Oilers in multiple categories yet unable to take the lead at any point during the game.
This loss gives the Oilers a 1-0 series as the teams prepare for Game 2 in the American Airlines Center on Saturday at 7 p.m.
