Edmonton Oilers win game, lose Hyman, tighten noose around Stars

Game 4 in any playoff series is always to swing game, and that was the case again Tuesday at Rogers Place because when it was all over, the Dallas Stars were swinging from the end of a noose.

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The Edmonton Oilers kicked the stool out from under Dallas with a 4-1 victory to take a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference Final. And now, if history is any indication, it’s only a matter of time until the Stars stop kicking.

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The Oilers improved to 11-2 in their last 13 playoff games and are 17-2 in Games 4 through 7 of a playoff series over the last two years. They’re also 8-1 over the last four years when they have a chance to close out a series and 17-1 all time when they are up 3-1 in a series.

If you’re Dallas, this is some bad math. When the stakes are high, the Oilers’ killer instinct is ruthless.

If you’re the Oilers, being one win away from another berth in the Stanley Cup Final is a dream that is now close enough to touch. They are plowing through the best teams in the Western Conference, gaining speed and momentum in the process.

“Feeling good,” grinned Leon Draisaitl, who had a goal and an assist for 23 points in 15 post-season games. “We just won a big game at home, and we’re going to Dallas to have the chance to move on to the Stanley Cup Final. If that doesn’t get you excited, I’m not sure what will.”

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The Oilers and Stars waged a ferocious battle, exactly what you’d expect when one team is fighting for its life and the other is looking to administer a quick death.

And, once again, the Oilers found a way to win. This time, it was by winning the special-teams battle. Edmonton scored twice on the power play, killed three of four penalties and that was the difference.

The Stars are learning what the Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights just learned — one way or another, whether it’s five-on-five, with goaltending, with offence, with defence or on the power play, the Oilers will find a way to beat you.

“They have been the best power play for the last five years and when things haven’t gone well they take ownership,” said head coach Kris Knoblauch. “All five of those guys were dialled in and wanting to make a difference. They made a difference with two goals tonight.”

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Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the longest-serving member of the Oilers, is having a whale of a series (two goals and seven assists), set up the first two Edmonton goals — one from Draisaitl 11:23 into the first period and one from Corey Perry 9:20 into the second to give Edmonton a 2-1 lead heading into the final frame.

Nobody deserves another trip to the Stanley Cup Final more than the 32-year-old, 14-year veteran, who’s been though plenty of lean years with this franchise, and he’s doing everything he can to make that possible.

“He sacrifices a lot of offence throughout the year for doing everything the right way, been in the right position and doing the little things that a lot of guys don’t want to do,” said Draisaitl. “We all know he’s capable of putting up numbers and making great plays. Right now everything is clicking at once and he’s been the best player in the series.”

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With a one-goal lead heading into the third period, the Oilers went into shutdown mode, holding the Stars to four shots in the third period for the second game in a row before Kasperi Kapanen and Adam Henrique iced it with empty-netters.

The Stars have some talented offensive players, but they’ve been held to two goals in the last three games by an Oilers team that locks its down with the very best of them.

“You guys ask us about our checking and defensive play all the time, those guys can defend,” said Knoblauch. “They’re good at it, and good when it matters most — in the third period holding the lead. There’s a lot of older guys with playoff experience, they know what it takes to win hockey games.”

Once again, Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner kept the Stars from gaining any sort of momentum. He stopped 16 shots in the first period and eight of nine in the second, and 28 of 29 overall. The only one that got by him was Jason Robertson’s power-play snipe at 6:57 of the second period.

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The game came at a significant cost, though, as Zach Hyman, who has 109 hits in the playoffs and scored two goals last game, left midway through the first period after a hit from Mason Marchment. Hyman dropped his stick immediately after the collision and headed straight to the Oilers room with with an injured arm or shoulder.

The Oilers didn’t provide an update, but from listening to his teammates it doesn’t sound good.

“It’s a big loss, he’s a big part of our team on and off the ice,” said Nugent-Hopkins. “You’ve seen his physicality, it’s important to our game, but other guys have already have stepped up and tried to fill that gap. We’re going to need it obviously, in however many games we have left and we’ll wait to see about Zach.

“But guys are ready to step up. This is the time of year where everybody is champing at the bit to get out there. Tonight was a big one and part of it felt like we were doing it for Zach to get the job done.”

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E-mail: rtychkowski@postmedia.com

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