4 Keys to Oilers Winning Game 5 Against Stars

The Edmonton Oilers are just one win away from advancing to their second straight Stanley Cup Final. The Oilers didn’t get off to the start they had hoped in this year’s Western Conference Final, as a third-period collapse resulted in them trailing 1-0 versus the Dallas Stars. Since that stumble, however, they’ve rifled off three straight victories, and have a chance to take the series on Thursday night.

The Oilers have been predominantly better than the Stars throughout this series, making their big 3-1 lead very justified. The same could be said in their second-round series versus the Vegas Golden Knights as well, as they have been on fire ever since trailing the LA Kings 2-0 in the first round. That said, in order to close out the Western Conference Final, these four things will need to go right.

Power Play Needs to Keep Clicking

What’s been very unusual for the Oilers in this year’s playoffs is that their power play has been anything but spectacular. Fans around the NHL have grown accustomed to the Oilers winning series thanks in large part to their incredible five-man unit, but that hasn’t been the case as much in these playoffs, particularly in the second round against the Golden Knights.

The Oilers’ power play started out slow against the Stars as well, but took a huge step forward in Game 4, where they were able to convert on two of their three opportunities on the man advantage. Power plays tend to be few and far between this deep into the playoffs, meaning that when the Oilers do get an opportunity in Game 5, they will need to make it count.

Disciplined Play Needed

While their power play hasn’t been as dominant as some would have expected, the real disappointment has been the Oilers’ penalty kill. They have killed off just 66.7 percent of their penalties in the postseason, and there have been little signs that it’s going to turn around at this point.

Of course, the best way to get over a bad penalty kill is to simply stay out of the box, which will be of the utmost importance in Game 5 against a lethal Stars power play group. They’ve dominated this series at even strength, and should they be able to stay out of the box on Thursday, they’ll likely punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final.

Skinner Needs to Stay Hot

It might soon be time for fans to start checking Stuart Skinner’s betting odds when it comes to winning the Conn Smythe. That may sound crazy given that he was replaced just two games into the playoffs, but since taking the net back over late in the Golden Knights series, he has been nothing short of spectacular.