Dallas (2-1) at Edmonton (1-2)
When: Wednesday, May 29th 2024
Where: Rogers Place,
Edmonton, Alberta
Time: 8:30 ET | TV: TNT
Opening Odds: Edmonton -120/5.5
The Edmonton Oilers dominated the first period of Game 3 at home in front of a raucous Rogers Place, but the gritty Dallas Stars took over. Jason Robertson recorded a hat trick for the Stars, who erased a 2-0 deficit to take a 2-1 series lead with a 5-3 road victory on Monday night. Robertson’s third goal of the night, and sixth of the playoffs, broke a 3-3 tie with 8:06 remaining. The Oilers grabbed a two-goal lead in the first period on goals by Zach Hyman and Connor McDavid, but failed to generate much offense after that.
The Stars enter Game 4 as a big -300 favorites on the series line, while the Oilers sit at +240. The current favored exact series result is a Stars win in six games at +240, while the biggest long shot is Oilers in six at +600. Dallas is now the +160 favorites to win the Stanley Cup on the NHL futures board, while Edmonton has the longest odds at +450. Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger remains a +340 favourite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP and Edmonton captain Connor McDavid is +800.
DALLAS STARS
The Stars got a big lift in Game 3 with the return of top-line center Roope Hintz, who missed the previous four games with an upper-body injury. Hintz assisted on two of Jason Robertson’s three goals, helping Robertson snap a 10-game goalless drought. Wyatt Johnston and Miro Heiskanen also scored in the win and Oettinger made 27 saves in net. Robertson (6G, 10A), Heiskanen (6G, 9A) and Johnston (8G, 6A) lead the Stars in points this postseason. Oettinger has posted a 2.09 goals-against average and .923 save percentage in the playoffs.
EDMONTON OILERS
The Oilers have to feel frustrated after getting a 2-0 lead and outshooting the Stars 30-22 in Game 3. Adam Henrique, who returned to the lineup after suffering an ankle injury, also scored in the loss. The Oilers power play has hit a wall, scoring just once in their last 15 chances going back to the second round. McDavid (4G, 21A) and Leon Draisaitl (9G, 16A) still lead the playoffs with 25 points each and Hyman has an NHL-high 13 goals. Stuart Skinner gave up four goals on just 21 shots in Game 3, including a very weak goal along the side of the net. While the Oilers have already announced Skinner will start Game 4, he may be on a short leash with Calvin Pickard waiting in the wings.
Prediction:
I love this Edmonton team, but goaltending is an issue, and it has been since McDavid came into the league. I went with the Stars in Game 3 and I’ll back them again here. Oettinger is much more trustworthy than Skinner and the Stars just keep winning on the road (6-1) in the postseason.
