The Edmonton Oilers are headed back to the Stanley Cup finals after defeating the Dallas Stars 2-1 to take Game 6 in the Western Conference Finals.
In front of an electrified crowd displaying immense pride for the home team, the Oilers started hot and never cooled off, scoring their first goal almost six minutes into the first period.
Edmonton’s Connor McDavid scored first with one goal and an assist to help close out the series against Dallas.
On a power play in the first period, McDavid split two Dallas defenders and delivered the puck high up over Oettinger to give the Oilers the early lead.
Zach Hyman also scored on a first-period power play that gave the Oilers a 2-0 lead.
The Stars’ only goal came in the third period on a 2-on-2 matchup.
Mason Marchment gave Dallas its only score, scoring on a wrist shot midway through the third.
Oettinger had 10 saves, while Stuart Skinner stopped 34 shots for the Oilers.
After the game, McDavid breathed a sigh of relief and took it all in.
“When the horn went off, that’s the loudest I ever heard it,” McDavid told Sportsnet amid the on-ice postgame celebration as Edmonton fans chanted “We want the Cup” over and over. “Special place to play, honestly. So much history. And these fans, it was great to hear their support.”
The Oilers head to Florida to take on the Florida Panthers, who lost to the Las Vegas Golden Knights in last year’s Stanley cup Finals.
Travis Tyler