Player grades: Stuart Skinner with his best game, Edmonton Oilers 6, Dallas Stars, 1

Stuart Skinner came up with his best goalie performance of the 2025 playoffs, Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman revved up their attack, and the Edmonton Oilers beat the Dallas Stars 6-1 in Game 3 of the Western Conference final.

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It’s hard to argue a goalie stole a win in a 6-1 game, but Skinner did so, keeping Edmonton ahead during an extended Stars onslaught in the second period and early in the third. After Edmonton got a 2-0 lead late in the first, Dallas went on a run of 15 Grade A shots to just two for the Oilers but Dallas scored just once, with Edmonton ending that streak with a killer of a goal of its own late in the second.

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In total Edmonton has 14 Grade A shots, 19 for Dallas, with the subset of 5-alarm shots six for the Oilers, seven for the Stars (running count)

Connor McDavid, 8. Two goals, but a high event in this game. Critical plays on Edmonton’s first three goals. But some chaos on defence. He made a horrendous fly-by on a break-out in the first, leading to Blackwell’s 5-alarm shot. But a great moving screen on Edmonton’s first goal. Then finished off a give-and-go with RNH, blasting a shot top shelf where Gramma keeps the cookies, as legendary Edmonton skills coach Jim Fleming likes to say. Charged in twice, scoring the second time, a kill shot for Edmonton’s third goal as it came in the last seconds of the second period to take the energy out of the Dallas comeback. On that second goal McD again put it top shelf, maybe off of Lindell. Contributions/mistakes on Grade A Shots (GAS): Even Strength +4/-5; Special Teams +1/-0

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Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 8. Three assists. He lost the board battle leading to a near goal against in the first. Nice pass to set up Edmonton’s first. Almost put a shot off Frederic’s hard forecheck late in the second. Took a wicked hit from Lian Bichsel, shook him up but he kept in the game. Allowed passes in on two 5-alarm Tyler Seguin shots early in third, but then a brilliant 120 foot eyes up stretch-pass to send in Hyman on Edmonton’s fourth.  GAS: ES +4/-3; ST +0/-0.

Zach Hyman, 9. He’s been crushing it all playoffs and finally rewarded with a two-goal game. Also one assist and nine hits. +5 on goals. He made a great hit to win the puck on Edmonton’s first 5-alarm shot. Battle won at the blueline and hard charge to the net on Edmonton’s first. His turnover kicked off a dangerous sequence for Dallas, but it ended up with Hyman breaking in and once again Oettinger was beat top shelf. Broke in again to score a few shifts later, again going top shelf. Mamma ain’t got no cookies no more. GAS: ES +5/-2; ST +0/-0

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Leon Draisaitl, 5. Not his best game. Some tough moments on defence. Hard hit on big Bichsel in the first. He was slow to react early in the second and let in Steel get off two 5-alarm point blank shots. Nasty turnover in the second led to Lindell’s dangerous, screened slot shot. Did well on the dot, 13 wins, five losses. GAS: ES +2/-3; ST +2/-0.

Vasily Podkolzin, 5. Quiet game. Will need to step up if Brown is out for long. One good rush in the third. And good screen on Klingberg’s goal. GAS: ES +1/-0; ST +2/-0.

Kasperi Kapanen, 4. Got the first Grade A of the game, tip shot into Oettinger’s pads. But took an iffy but unnecessary high sticking penalty late in the first. Failed to have his stick on the ice and missed McD’s seam pass on a 2-on-1. GAS: ES +1/-0; ST +0/-0.

Evander Kane, 7. Slammed a 5-alarm shot on net early on off a low-high pass from McD. He charged in for a Grade A shot on a second period power play. Won a battle and made a swell pass to send in Hyman for his second goal. GAS: ES +2/-0; ST +2/-0.

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Connor Brown, 4. Some defensive miscues. Body slam of a hit on Miro Heiskanen in the second, exactly the kind of hit the Oilers need to make. He took a nasty shoulder to the head from Petrovic, but no penalty. Brown kept battling on the play until Dallas scored its first, then left the game. I would not be surprised to see NHL Player Safety review the head shot. GAS: ES +0/-3; ST +0/-1.

Adam Henrique, 4. Not his best game. A few issues in his own zone. GAS: ES +0/-2; ST +0/-0.

Trent Frederic, 5. He charged in hard late in the second, popped the puck off Oettinger, with RNH almost scoring. Bichsel’s nasty, dirty and dangerous cross-check sent him into the Dallas net in the third. Of course no penalty. GAS: ES +0/-0; ST +0/-0.

Corey Perry, 4. Slowing down a bit. Turnover on the power play led to a Dallas short-handed chance. GAS: ES +1/-2; ST +0/-1.

Mattias Janmark, 4. He was slow to block the pass across on Mikko Rantanen’s one-timer early in the second. Allowed the slot pass on Bichsel’s goal. Got a tip shot in the third. GAS: ES +1/-1; ST +0/-2.

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Evan Bouchard, 8. Continues to dominate. He and Hyman have been Edmonton’s best playoff performers to date, with McD a close third. Bombed in Edmonton’s first through a heavy screen, a back-breaker Californian of a goal (a screened outside shot). Won a board battle to send in McDavid on Edmonton’s third goal. Took a nasty slash from Rantanen in third. Again no call. GAS: ES +4/-1; ST +0/-0.

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Brett Kulak, 6. Quiet but solid enough. GAS: ES +1/-2; ST +0/-0.

Jake Walman, 6. Generally got the job done. GAS: ES +1/-2; ST +1/-0.

John Klingberg, 5. A few hiccups on defence, but solid moving the puck. Nice goal in garbage time GAS: ES +0/-3; ST +2/-0.

Troy Stecher, 7. Huge defensive plays in this one, sharp puck-moving. Blocked a dangerous slotter late in the first. Great sliding block to thwart Dallas in the slot in the third. GAS: ES +0/-1; ST +0/-0.

Darnell Nurse, 4.  Had his struggles on defence. He was caught out on a long 1:22 shift in the second, first allowed Robertson’s slot shot off the crossbar, then losing a battle at the side of the net leading up to Bichsel’s slot shot. Slow to Seguin on his early third period 5-alarmer. GAS: ES +1/-5; ST +0/-0.

Stuart Skinner, 9. Monster game. His best of these playoffs. Brilliant save on Blackwell’s 5-alarm snipe, then another great one of a broken slot play in the last seconds of the first. Saved by the post on Rantanen’s PP harpoon early in the second, but made a few solid saves a moment later. Two big saves on Sam Steel in tight came next, then one on a Mason Marchment off the rush, and Jason Robertson’s inside shot batted on net. Topped it all battling through a screen on Esa Lindell’s slot shot. Might have done better on the first Dallas goal, but plenty of action in front of him and a slotter off a low-high pass and a tip by Robertson. Massive and glorious rebound stop off the post on Wyatt Johnston’s charge at the net a moment later. Fought off two wicked Seguin slotters early in the third.

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