Sports
Jason Robertson Powers Stars Over Oilers 5-3 For Lead In Western Conference Final
EDMONTON, Alberta — Jason Robertson scored his first playoff hat trick midway through the third period, helping the Dallas Stars upset the Edmonton Oilers 5-3 on Monday night to take a 2-1 lead in the NHL’s Western Conference final.
Dallas’ other goal came from Wyatt Johnston and Miro Heiskanen, who scored into an empty net. Jake Oettinger recorded 26 saves. Roope Hintz, Tyler Seguin, and Jamie Benn each contributed two assists.
“You want to help the team win, and you want to score goals,” said Robertson, who had not scored since Game 6 of the first round. “Scoring one gives you confidence … like a domino effect.”
Oilers | AP News Image
Jason Robertson Powers Stars Over Oilers 5-3 For Lead In Western Conference Final
Connor McDavid had a goal and an assist to give him 100 career postseason points, while Zach Hyman and Adam Henrique scored for Edmonton, which had 17 saves from Stuart Skinner.
“A really good start,” McDavid remarked. “I’m not sure where those 10, 15 minutes come from, but it’s as bad as it’s been throughout the playoffs.”
Dallas, which reclaimed home-ice advantage with the win and had the league’s best regular-season road record, is now 6-1 in the playoffs away from the American Airlines Center.
Hintz returned to the Stars after missing Game 4 of the second round against the Colorado Avalanche due to an upper-body ailment.
“We gutted it out while (Hintz) was out of the lineup,” Dallas coach Pete DeBoer said. “It wasn’t as nice as tonight while he was gone, but we found ways. Guys found ways to contribute even without a major player.
“That is what I am most proud of. It was wonderful that he returned tonight, but I’m especially proud of how we managed his absence.”
Oilers | AP news Image
Jason Robertson Powers Stars Over Oilers 5-3 For Lead In Western Conference Final
The fourth game of the best-of-seven series is scheduled for Wednesday night.
Henrique returned to the lineup after missing seven of Edmonton’s last eight games with a suspected ankle ailment. Hintz, the Stars’ No. 1 center, returned after missing four games due to an upper-body ailment.
“You never know what a player’s going to bring after a stretch of not playing,” Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said Monday following the loss. “Normally, it’s difficult for a player to find their game, but I don’t believe he had any issues.
“He made a number of good plays, especially with the goal. He was excellent in the faceoff, and it was nice to have him.
After the Oilers dominated the first 20 minutes and the Stars regained momentum in the second, Robertson broke a 3-3 tie at 11:54 in the third period with a jam play that squeezed through Skinner.
Edmonton removed the goaltender late in an attempt to force OT, but Heiskanen iced it into an empty net with 1:55 remaining in regulation.
The Oilers dominated the first period inside a raucous Rogers Place.
McDavid turned out of the corner and blasted a shot that went in off Hyman only 2:02 into the game, battling Stars defenseman Ryan Suter for a position in front of the net for his NHL-leading 13th playoff goal.
Oilers | AP News Image
Jason Robertson Powers Stars Over Oilers 5-3 For Lead In Western Conference Final
The Oilers took a 2-0 lead at 7:37 when blueliner Mattias Ekholm circled the Stars net and delivered a pass for McDavid, who won a duel with Seguin for the puck in the crease for the superstar captain’s fourth goal of the series, following his double overtime goal in Game 1.
Following the intermission, the Stars made an incredible comeback.
Robertson scored his fourth goal at 5:35 of the second period with a one-timer over Skinner’s ear, then shoveled another upstairs on the Edmonton netminder at 8:05 as Dallas came in waves against the fragmented, uninspired home team.
Just 63 seconds later, Johnston scored his eighth goal in front of a startled crowd to make it 3-2.
The three goals in 3:33 were the quickest triple in Dallas postseason history since they relocated to Texas in 1993.
SOURCE – (AP)
