The Dallas Stars' quest for the Stanley Cup concluded Thursday night with a 6-3 defeat to the Edmonton Oilers in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final. The loss at the American Airlines Center allowed the Oilers to clinch the series 4-1 and advance to their second consecutive Stanley Cup Final, where they will face the Florida Panthers in a rematch of last year's championship series.
Edmonton seized early control of the game, scoring three goals within the first 8:07 of the opening period. Connor McDavid led the Oilers with a goal and an assist, reaching his 100th career playoff assist in just 90 games—a milestone surpassed only by Wayne Gretzky.
The Stars struggled to recover from the early deficit. Goaltender Jake Oettinger was replaced after allowing goals on the first two shots he faced, and Dallas failed to register a shot on goal in the final 16 minutes and 17 seconds of the game.
This marks the second consecutive year the Stars have been eliminated by the Oilers in the Western Conference Final. Despite high expectations and significant investments, including the acquisition of forward Mikko Rantanen, Dallas fell short of reaching the Stanley Cup Final.
The Stars now face an offseason of reflection and potential roster changes as they prepare for the 2025-2026 season.
For a detailed recap of Game 5, you can watch the highlights below:
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