The Dallas Stars enter Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals against the Edmonton Oilers with the series tied 1–1 and a clear mission to reclaim control after a disappointing 3–0 loss in Game 2. Despite the setback, the Stars have proven all postseason long that they are one of the most resilient and well-balanced teams in the NHL, combining strong goaltending, playoff experience, and scoring depth. Offensively, Mikko Rantanen has taken on a critical leadership role, consistently generating high-danger chances and leading the team’s attack, particularly in the absence of Roope Hintz, who is questionable for Game 3 with a lower-body injury. Hintz’s availability could dramatically affect Dallas’ ability to roll its lines effectively, as he not only centers one of the team’s top units but also plays a key role on the power play and penalty kill. Without him, more pressure falls on Jason Robertson, Joe Pavelski, and Wyatt Johnston to produce in critical moments and help drive zone time against an Oilers team that thrives on transition play. Goaltender Jake Oettinger will be central to Dallas’s efforts to bounce back—he was brilliant throughout the first two rounds and has shown the ability to reset after tough outings, which the Stars will count on after he allowed three goals in Game 2, including a deflating second-period tally that shifted the momentum. Oettinger’s calm under fire and ability to track pucks through traffic will be tested by Edmonton’s speed and net-front presence, particularly from players like Draisaitl and Zach Hyman.

Dallas’s defense, led by Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell, will need to tighten gaps in the neutral zone and avoid turnovers that feed Edmonton’s transition game—something that hurt them in Game 2. The Stars are 2–4 ATS in their last six road games against the Oilers, but their broader playoff track record shows they’re comfortable in hostile environments, with a road win in Colorado and Minnesota already this postseason. Dallas’s special teams remain a potential X-factor—their power play has clicked at crucial times throughout the playoffs, and a more disciplined showing in Game 3 could help tilt momentum back in their favor if they can draw penalties and capitalize. Head coach Pete DeBoer’s adjustments will be crucial, especially in how he matches lines to contain Connor McDavid’s speed and prevent defensive mismatches that Edmonton exposed in Game 2. For the Stars to steal back home-ice advantage, they’ll need a return to their methodical, patient structure—slowing the game down, cycling deep, and creating traffic in front of Stuart Skinner, who saw little sustained pressure last time out. A Game 3 win would not only reestablish Dallas as the favorite in this series but also show that their Game 1 dominance wasn’t a fluke. With the stakes rising and the margin for error shrinking, expect the Stars to come out sharp, physical, and ready to dictate the tempo from puck drop.