Edmonton Oilers blank Stars in 2nd & 3rd Period to even series 2 to 2

The Western Conference Finals have been extremely unpredictable.  Not just for the predicted score outcomes, but also what each team will bring every game.  Dallas continued the trend Wednesday evening by striking first and quick with a Wyatt Johnston opening goal early in the first period.  To add to the Edmonton pressure, Stars’ defenseman Esa Lindell, netted the puck to extend the lead to 2-0 no more than 5 minutes later after the Johnston goal.  While the entire Rogers Place in Edmonton turned absolutely silent the Oilers seemed to be led by several players on the bench that continued shouting encouragement to each other.  The belief in the comeback was noticeable late in the 1stperiod when several scoring opportunities presented themselves for Edmonton. 

Oilers’ Ryan McLeod opened the scoring for Edmonton with 6:30 remaining in the period followed by a timely shot off a rebound by Evan Bouchard to tie the score 2 to 2.  Edmonton head coach, Kris Knoblauch, understood it was going to be a fight even though the game did not have a good start, “Didn’t look very good.”  The Oilers carried the momentum heading into the 2ndand that’s exactly what they needed to take a 3 to 2 lead with a Mattias Janmark goal followed by Leon Draisaitl adding a goal to extend the lead 4 to 2.  Momentum is what this series is built on, and Wednesday night the Oilers not only took the lead in the 2ndperiod, but they did not give up a goal in the remaining periods (2nd& 3rd) while adding an empty net goal late in the 3rdto finish the game with a 5 to 2 victory.   

Edmonton dominated in hits with 47 to 24, outshot the Stars, had a faceoff win percentage of 52.5% and only allowed 2 power plays without allowing a goal.  The series is now even and shifts to Dallas for a critical Game 5 on Friday.  Dallas will host 2 of the next 3 games if the series goes that far, and they still understand that home ice will be critical for advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals.