6 players to watch as Oilers try to race away from Stars
The Oilers have played eight immaculate periods and would be on the verge of winning the Western Conference Final if the Stars' power play hadn't erupted in the final frame of the opener. Instead, Dallas is reeling from two big losses but could tie the series with a strong road effort Tuesday. Keep an eye on these key players in Game 4 and beyond.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins: Headlined by Nugent-Hopkins, the top scorer in Round 3 with seven points, Edmonton's talented supporting cast is breaking out. The former first overall pick has been a loyal operative and slick passer for 14 NHL seasons. Nugent-Hopkins showcased the latter skill with increasingly nice primary assists in Game 3 to Evan Bouchard, Connor McDavid, and Zach Hyman. He's flirting with a point per game for the fourth straight postseason.
Mikael Granlund: The Stars trailed Edmonton by a point in the standings when they landed Granlund from San Jose on Feb. 1. They went 8-2-1 between then and the trade deadline and secured home ice for this eventual matchup before Mikko Rantanen even arrived. They can make use of that advantage if Granlund ignites a spark in Game 4. His hat trick against the Jets led to the exact sort of win - 3-1 with two power-play goals and solid goaltending - that Dallas needs again.
Leon Draisaitl: Draisaitl's influence can be striking or subtle. He's tallied a power-play point in each game against Dallas. His ability to uplift pedestrian linemates allows Hyman, McDavid, and Nugent-Hopkins to stay intact and go nuclear. Defense has been a focus for the "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner: Compared to last year's postseason, the Oilers have surrendered far fewer dangerous chances and expected goals when Draisaitl combats opposing top lines.
Cody Ceci: Serviceable through two rounds, Ceci's being upstaged by his former team. Edmonton's outscored Dallas 5-1 in the rugged defenseman's five-on-five shifts, per Natural Stat Trick. He was unable to slow zone entries and got burned by McDavid's turbo speed and deceptive passing ahead of several goals in Games 2 and 3. The Stars targeted Ceci in the Granlund trade to play hard minutes in the top four, and his results need to improve soon.
Brett Kulak: The Oilers penalty kill's gruesome 65.9% success rate is the second-worst in league history among teams that won a playoff round. Edmonton let in multiple power-play goals in three of four losses to date. Kulak was in the box for hooking rather than on the ice when Dallas started its comeback in the series opener. That said, he's second on the team in penalty-killing minutes and has been significantly more adept than Darnell Nurse at protecting the slot.
Jake Oettinger: Great goalies mask deficiencies, and Oettinger helped the Stars through wobbly moments in the first couple of rounds. He dropped five decisions to the Avalanche and Jets but responded with a glimmering .929 save percentage in games after losses. Edmonton's Game 3 onslaught disrupted the trend. With Roope Hintz injured and half the team slumping, Dallas is counting on Oettinger to foil McDavid's rampant line and steal a win.
Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.