NHL Playoffs: Oilers Defend Trip Back To Stanley Cup Finals

The Edmonton Oilers remained on the defensive during Sunday night’s Game 6 of the NHL Western Conference finals.

Preoccupied with keeping the Dallas Stars’ forwards mostly on the perimeter, the Oilers’ offensive sets were highlighted by two first-period, power-play goals – and that’s about it.

The Oilers held on to secure a 2-1 victory at Rogers Place and clinch their first trip to the Stanley Cup finals since 2006, but it didn’t come with much offensive flair.

Outside of Connor McDavid’s slick stickhandling tally, of course.

The Stars outshot the Oilers, 35-10.

The Oilers, who will meet the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup opener Saturday, generated just 10 shots on goal Sunday. It was the fewest shots ever during a game in which the winning team qualified for the Stanley Cup finals. The Boston Bruins held the previous mark with 17 shots against the Washington Capitals in the neutral-zone trap era of 1990.

The 10 shots also were the fewest for any postseason win.

X (Twitter) users replied to the Oilers defending their position against the Stars, earning a shot to capture the franchise’s first Cup title since 1990 …

2024 WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPION'S #LetsGoOilers #WEWANTTHECUP🏆 pic.twitter.com/E80PsWRcSJ

— Lisa🌴😎💫 (@Lets_get_going_) June 3, 2024

The Oilers started the regular season 2-9-1. They made a coaching coach to Kris Knoblauch and won 16 straight games (Dec. 21-Jan. 27), despite constant goalie questions …

It turns out, a Nov. 9 loss to the Sharks may be just the thing the Oilers needed, writes @PierreLeBrun.

It forced a coaching change. It hardened Edmonton. The team hasn't looked back.

And Connor McDavid and Ken Holland agree ⤵️https://t.co/oLxiW93sqc pic.twitter.com/TbktIyuf7g

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 2, 2024

Maligned for much of the season, Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner yielded four goals in the final three games of the conference finals and re-established his status as netminder of the future. He was the No. 1 star Sunday …

"I can barely hear that question because of how loud it is in here." 😅

Stuart Skinner joins @sportsnetkyle rink side after a huge Game 6 victory. pic.twitter.com/YE5n1AHHj0

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 3, 2024

The pre-game scene at Rogers Center on Sunday night …

Made it @edmontonoilers #LetsGoOilers #WCF pic.twitter.com/69fKaGGU2s

— Chris_ta (@Christa_e20) June 3, 2024

McWow! Taking advantage of an early power play, McDavid dazzled with a deft move around Miro Heiskanen to score the opening goal of Game 6 …

Simply disgusting from McDavid 🤢 pic.twitter.com/J9KcC6yMNc

— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) June 3, 2024

The overflow crowd at Rogers Place didn’t feel left out of the excitement surrounding McDavid’s marker …

GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLL ITS 1-0 #OILERS!!!#LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/tQ5q80TTxh

— Around The Rinks (@AroundTheRinks_) June 3, 2024

Scoring twice on three shots against Stars goalie Jake Oettinger, Oilers forward Zach Hyman connected on his NHL-leading 14th goal of the playoffs, also on the power play …

Zach Hyman with his 14th of playoffs as Oilers lead 2-0 #ProBlue
pic.twitter.com/tWHiS2JQvB

— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) June 3, 2024

McDavid continued to move up the scoring records. Assisting on Hyman’s tally, McDavid collected his 106th career postseason point, passing Leon Draisaitl for the fifth-most in team history …

"It feels like a dream."

Fresh off of booking his first career trip to the #StanleyCup Final, Connor McDavid chats with @sportsnetkyle. pic.twitter.com/VfY0PD0oAo

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 3, 2024

Living his own dream, veteran Corey Perry, 39, dressed for his 209th playoff game Sunday, moving past Wayne Gretzky and into 15th place all-time in league history. The 20-year veteran will also become the first NHL player to appear in five Stanley Cup finals with five different teams (Anaheim Ducks (2007), Stars (2020), Montreal Canadiens (2021) and Tampa Bay Lightning (2022) …

Corey Perry becomes the FIRST player in NHL history to play in a Stanley Cup Final with 5 different franchises 🤯 pic.twitter.com/2LNgl9VRPH

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) June 3, 2024

With the Oilers failing to generate a shot on goal for the opening 12-plus minutes of the third period, the Stars started a rally and pulled to within 2-1 on Mason Marchment’s drive-to-the-net marker …

NOT OVER YET 😳

MASON MARCHMENT MAKES IT A 2-1 GAME AT THE HALFWAY POINT OF THE THIRD pic.twitter.com/u53hiHPPU6

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 3, 2024

Final score: Oilers 2, Stars 1 …

Connor McDavid is off to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in his career!

Edmonton is seeking its first Cup in 34 years and Canada's first since 1993. pic.twitter.com/zAkJIfUk7M

— ESPN (@espn) June 3, 2024

Extending congratulations …