What’s Going On In The Playoffs: Oilers trail the Stars 2-1, Panthers and Rangers tied two games apiece
1 month ago
We’re about midway through the Conference Finals, and oh boy, are both of these series ever close.
Your 2024 Stanley Cup champion will be one of these four teams: The Dallas Stars, the Edmonton Oilers, the Florida Panthers, or the New York Rangers. Hopefully, not the Oilers.
Let’s take a look at what’s happening in those two series in the latest What’s Going On In The Playoffs!
Dallas has a 2-1 lead over Edmonton
Game 1 of the series was played on Thursday, with the Oilers jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the second period thanks to goals from Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman, both coming during five-on-five play. However, the Stars would get one past Stuart Skinner before the end of the period, as former Flame Brett Kulak gaffed the puck.
With just over three minutes remaining, Tyler Seguin scored his second of the game to tie the game at two. It stayed there until early in the second overtime period, before Connor McDavid ended the game and gave the Oilers a 1-0 series lead in a 3-2 overtime win.
Game 2 saw the Stars score the first goal, as Jamie Benn scored his fourth of the postseason. This was just the third time in 15 games that the Oilers allowed the first goal. However, the lead didn’t last long, with Connor Brown scoring his first of the season less than a minute later. In the first period, the Oilers out shot the Stars 16-4, but headed into the dressing room tied at one.
Fast forward to the third period, and Mason Marchment scored his second of the playoffs on a deflection, giving the Stars a 2-1 lead early in the third period. On the back of 22 blocked shots, the Stars out shot the Oilers 21-13 in the final two periods, with an Esa Lindell empty net goal icing the game.
The series shifted to Edmonton for Game 3, and like what had been happening in all three games, the Oilers out shot the Stars 10-3 in the first and once again had a 2-0 lead. Hyman scored his playoff-leading 13th goal of the season in the most Zach Hyman way possible, before McDavid scored his fourth of the season.
Just like Game 2 though, the Stars took over the game the longer it went, out shooting the Oilers 16-7 in the second period. This period saw three straight Stars goals in under four minutes, two from Jason Robertson before Wyatt Johnston scored his eighth of the postseason. The Oilers tied the game late in the second period thanks to an Adam Henrique goal.
Similar to Game 2, the Stars came out in the third period hungry and managed to beat Skinner to give them a one goal lead thanks to Robertson’s hat trick goal. They’d ice the game with a Miro Heiskanen empty net goal.
If the Stars can just win two more games, the Calgary Flames will receive their 2026 third-round pick that they acquired in the Chris Tanev trade. It would also eliminate their provincial rivals, a very nice bonus.
Game 4 starts on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. MT.
Florida and New York tied at 2
The Eastern Conference Finals is just as close.
Well, Game 1 wasn’t, as the Panthers scored their first goal towards the end of the first period, all they’d needed to take the first game of the series. However, they got the insurance goal late in the third period, before icing it with an empty net goal.
The last three games though? Those were much closer. Game 2 saw both teams exchange a goal, one from Vincent Trochek early in the game, followed by a late Panther goal in the first. The game was ended by Barclay Goodrow in overtime.
Game 3 saw a lot more scoring, with the Rangers holding a 4-2 lead heading into the third period. But two goals in under two minutes for the Panthers pushed the game to overtime, where Alex Wennberg won it for the Rangers to give them a 2-1 series lead.
Would it be a shock if I told you Game 4 also went to overtime? An early third period goal from the Rangers tied the game at two to send it to overtime for the third straight game. However, it was the Panthers who won it this time thanks to a Sam Reinhart power play goal.
Game 5 will be played on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. MT.
Thanks for reading! You can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.
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