Dallas Stars Face Edmonton Oilers in Highly Anticipated Rematch

On Saturday, the Dallas Stars will take on the Edmonton Oilers in a rematch that has been eagerly anticipated since their clash in the Western Conference finals of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs. Fans recall the heated contest that concluded with the Oilers advancing to the finals after a 2-1 victory in Game 6 held at Rogers Center, Edmonton.

The Stars, with a strong start to the season boasting a 4-1 record, will look to maintain their momentum. They will host the Oilers at the American Airlines Center, having secured a flawless 3-0 record on home ice so far. Dallas has managed a scoring differential of +5, having scored 13 goals and allowed only eight.

The Edmonton Oilers, on the other hand, have had a rocky beginning to their season, with three losses out of five games. Nonetheless, they hope to turn the tide in their favor, driven by their star player, Connor McDavid, who has earned five points (1 goal and 4 assists) in the opening games of the 2024-25 season. McDavid’s performance highlights a four-game point streak, consistent with his impressive record since 2016.

Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn reflected on the lingering rivalry, stating, “You remember that they’re the team that knocked you out of the playoffs. Obviously, it’s a new year, but you still want to win pretty badly.” Head coach Pete DeBoer echoed similar sentiments, comparing the matchup to their division game against Nashville, “Obviously, with the way the season ended last year, that’s still fairly fresh, but it’s a new year and a new group.”

The Stars have faced challenges on the power play, only achieving a 5.9% success rate with one power play goal out of 17 attempts this season, a fact that looms over Saturday’s preparations. “There’s definitely things we need to do differently,” Benn added, noting the necessity of improvements starting with winning faceoffs.

The Oilers will arrive in Dallas bolstered by a recent 4-2 win over the Nashville Predators, with Brett Kulak turning heads by scoring two goals in the match. Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner reflected on the resilience required for facing the Stars again, noting their structured play and strong goaltending as characteristics to prepare for.