Oilers rally from early deficit to beat Stars 5-2, tie up Western Conference final

The Edmonton Oilers staged an impressive comeback to defeat the Dallas Stars 5-2 in Game 4 of the NHL’s Western Conference final, evening the series at two games apiece. Mattias Janmark and Leon Draisaitl scored less than a minute apart in the second period to lead the Oilers to victory.

After falling behind by two goals early in the game, the Oilers fought back with goals from Ryan McLeod, Evan Bouchard, and Mattias Ekholm, who scored into an empty net. Goalie Stuart Skinner made 20 saves, while Connor McDavid contributed two assists to the win. For the Stars, Wyatt Johnston and Esa Lindell found the back of the net, with Jake Oettinger making 24 saves and Jamie Benn recording two assists.

The pivotal moment came in the second period when Janmark and Draisaitl scored in quick succession to give the Oilers the lead. Janmark capitalized on a short-handed 2-on-1 opportunity, while Draisaitl connected with Zach Hyman for a give-and-go goal. Skinner made a crucial save on Evgenii Dadonov to maintain the Oilers’ lead heading into the third period.

Despite a strong start from Dallas in the final frame, the Oilers managed to hold off the Stars’ offensive pressure. Ekholm sealed the victory with an empty-net goal, securing Edmonton’s first home victory in the conference final since 2006.

The Oilers made three lineup changes for Game 4, including the addition of defenseman Philip Broberg, who helped bolster the team’s defensive structure. The changes paid off as Edmonton overcame an early deficit to secure the win.

With the series now tied, the momentum shifts back to Dallas for Game 5 on Friday, followed by Game 6 in Edmonton on Sunday. The Oilers will look to build on their Game 4 success as they continue their quest for a spot in the Stanley Cup Final.