Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the NHL match.
There’s a sense of familiarity in the Western Conference of the NHL, with a repeat of last season’s finals on the cards — a series where the Edmonton Oilers prevailed over the Dallas Stars in six games. However, the Stars have undergone notable changes since then and now stand out as one of the prime contenders for the Stanley Cup.
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars convincingly overcame the regular-season leaders, the Winnipeg Jets, clinching the series 4:2. A key factor was the return of Miro Heiskanen to the top line, which went on to register points in all six games. Goaltender Jake Oettinger is performing at an exceptional level, with a playoff save percentage of 91.06% and a goals-against average of 2.47. He recorded a save percentage below 92% in just two games during the series against the Winnipeg Jets.
Edmonton Oilers
By contrast, the Edmonton Oilers’ display leaves plenty of questions. While two unexpected shutouts from goaltender Stuart Skinner helped them to a 4:1 series win over the Vegas Golden Knights, relying on a netminder with an 88.3% save percentage over the course of the playoffs remains a major gamble. The first line has also struggled to find form. Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins have registered just 8 (3+5) and 9 (3+6) points respectively across 11 postseason games. Furthermore, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have combined for only eight goals — a tally that will need to improve significantly moving forward.
Dallas Stars vs Edmonton Oilers Prediction
The Dallas Stars wrapped up their series against the Winnipeg Jets on home ice and have enjoyed several days of rest and preparation. They appear well-positioned to carry that momentum into this matchup — a luxury that the Edmonton Oilers may not share. For us, the Dallas Stars go into Game 1 as clear favourites.
