The puck comes loose near the blue line, and there’s a fumble. It ends up on the stick of a Dallas Star, and Harley takes a shot. The puck gets deflected in front, but the play quickly shifts to a three-on-one opportunity. Mattias scores short-handed, marking the Oilers’ first goal of the playoffs.
A quick read of the play shows Darrell Nurse stepping up, effectively taking two Dallas Stars out of the play and preventing them from getting back into the lane. This creates an opening for a sharp pass across the ice. It’s not an easy shot, but Janar manages to get it into the top half of the net. Brown makes a perfect layoff, and the blast results in 22 consecutive successful penalty kills for the Oilers.
As the play continues, Drysdale takes over for the Oilers. The game becomes sloppy in the neutral zone, and Heinan gets caught in a turnover. A quick give-and-go leads to a rapid release, showcasing the intensity and fast pace of playoff hockey.