Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals between the Dallas Stars and the Edmonton Oilers arrives at a critical juncture, with the Oilers holding a 2-1 series advantage after a resounding 6-1 win in Game 3 that tilted momentum heavily in their favor. Edmonton’s top offensive weapons, particularly Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, were sensational in Game 3, combining for multiple points and leading a relentless attack that overwhelmed Dallas both at even strength and on the power play. That offensive outburst was backed by a strong performance from goaltender Stuart Skinner, who delivered a composed and steady presence between the pipes after a rocky start to the playoffs, giving Edmonton the defensive backbone it had been lacking in earlier rounds. With home-ice advantage and confidence growing, the Oilers now look to take a commanding 3-1 lead before heading back to Dallas, where the Stars will be desperate to even things up and avoid the dreaded 3-1 series hole. Dallas, on the other hand, has demonstrated resilience throughout this postseason, having adjusted well after losses in previous series, and they’ll need another bounce-back effort, particularly from netminder Jake Oettinger, who was pulled in Game 3 after allowing five goals on just 22 shots. The Stars must clean up their defensive zone structure, which collapsed under the weight of Edmonton’s high-speed attack, while also finding more offensive production from their forward depth beyond Mikko Rantanen and Roope Hintz.

Veteran leadership from Jamie Benn, Joe Pavelski, and Tyler Seguin will be vital in helping to stabilize the locker room and rally the group around a collective push to re-establish their game. Special teams will again be a major factor, with Edmonton’s power play converting at an elite clip and Dallas needing to both stay out of the box and capitalize on their own man-advantage opportunities. Coaching adjustments from Pete DeBoer will likely include more defensive layers in the neutral zone and quicker puck movement to break Edmonton’s aggressive forecheck, while Kris Knoblauch may emphasize continued pressure and sustained offensive zone time to keep the Stars on their heels. Injuries could also play a role, with Connor Brown out for Edmonton and Mattias Ekholm’s status uncertain, while Dallas may look for lineup tweaks to spark secondary scoring and defensive reliability. With both teams fully aware of the implications, Game 4 sets the stage for a dramatic showdown that will test depth, discipline, and poise under pressure, and could ultimately decide the trajectory of the entire series depending on whether Dallas can reset or Edmonton can bury them in a near-insurmountable deficit.