Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals between the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars on May 23, 2025, at American Airlines Center is a high-stakes contest that could shape the direction of the series after the Stars opened with a narrow 3–2 win in Game 1, showcasing their ability to manage pressure, slow down elite scorers, and convert opportunities into results despite being outgunned on paper. The Oilers, headlined by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, were held to just two goals in the opener—a surprising outcome given their recent offensive explosion where they had been averaging four goals per game over the previous nine postseason outings. Dallas executed a near-perfect defensive game plan by collapsing on McDavid in transition, forcing the puck wide, and limiting high-danger chances in the slot, while goaltender Jake Oettinger continued his playoff excellence with a composed and efficient performance, turning away 31 of 33 shots and giving the Stars the goaltending edge over an inconsistent Stuart Skinner. Skinner’s form remains a major storyline, especially with backup Calvin Pickard unavailable, meaning Edmonton will ride or die with Skinner despite his uneven playoff record that has ranged from lights-out to leaky in recent series. Dallas’s Game 1 victory was fueled by two timely goals from Tyler Seguin, a veteran playoff performer who stepped up in the absence of consistent scoring from stars like Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson, and if the Stars can continue getting contributions from secondary scorers while keeping Edmonton’s power play in check, they’ll have a clear path to controlling this series.

Special teams will remain a key battleground—Edmonton thrives on the man advantage with some of the league’s best puck movement and zone entries, but Dallas kept their discipline in Game 1, taking only two penalties and successfully killing both, denying the Oilers their usual game-breaking momentum swings. From a betting perspective, the Stars covered the puck line in Game 1 as -137 favorites and now hold a slight psychological edge, while the Oilers will need to regroup, adjust their offensive strategies to get more traffic in front of Oettinger, and tighten their neutral zone play to prevent odd-man rushes that cost them dearly in Game 1. Edmonton’s recent record of 5–5 ATS in their last 10 games shows how volatile their results have been, while Dallas, at 4–6 ATS, hasn’t been dominant but finds ways to win close games, a hallmark of playoff resilience. The total went under in Game 1, and if the Stars continue dictating tempo and avoiding unnecessary penalties, Game 2 may follow a similar script unless the Oilers break through early and force Dallas into a track meet. With the crowd behind them and a chance to take a 2–0 series lead back to Edmonton, the Stars will look to replicate their defensive intensity, while the Oilers face an urgent need to reclaim their offensive rhythm, protect their net better, and show they can win a grinding, physical playoff game on the road—something they’ve yet to do consistently this postseason.