Center Connor McDavid won nine of his 16 faceoffs and tallied one assist, one takeaway and a key shot block in the third period that helped seal the game. Defenseman Evan Bouchard chipped in with two assists and three blocked shots as the Oilers suffocated the Stars down the stretch.

Following the Edmonton Oilers’ 6-3 loss to the Dallas Stars in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final, captain Connor McDavid responded to criticism about his team’s struggles to protect late-game leads.

Connor McDavid dismissed suggestions that the Edmonton Oilers ’ Game 1 collapse against the Dallas Stars reflects a pattern of giving up leads. Asked about the Oilers' failure to capitalize on a 3-1 lead entering the third period, McDavid called the 6-3 loss in the Western Conference Final opener a "one-off," not a trend.