Corey Perry and Leon Draisaitl each collected one goal and one assist to lead the host Edmonton Oilers to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Tuesday that has them one win from the Stanley Cup Final for the second consecutive year.
Kasperi Kapanen and Adam Henrique added empty-net goals in the final 2 ½ minutes for the Oilers, who own a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals. Edmonton can close out the series in Game 5 on Thursday in Dallas.
Goalie Stuart Skinner made 28 saves in yet another sparkling performance while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (two assists) produced his fourth consecutive multi-point game.
Jason Robertson scored for the Stars and goalie Jake Oettinger stopped 29 of 31 shots.
With the score tied 1-1, Perry gave Edmonton the lead for good at 9:20 of the second period when he set up on the doorstep and redirected Nugent-Hopkins’ pass for the game’s third power-play goal and his sixth tally of the postseason.
Kapanen’s empty-net goal with 2:27 remaining in regulation time all but iced the clash. Henrique added another with 49.7 seconds on the clock to round out the scoring.
Dallas had a litany of chances in the first two periods, but failed to take a lead for the third consecutive game.
Draisaitl opened the scoring at 11:23 of the first period with the game’s first power-play goal, finishing a give-and-go with Nugent-Hopkins with a one-timer from the right face-off circle for his team-leading seventh goal of the playoffs.
It marked the seventh consecutive game the Oilers opened the scoring.
Robertson’s man-advantage marker at 6:57 of the second period tied the clash. Robertson gained the puck in the high slot and ripped a top-shelf offering for his second tally in as many games.
Dallas forward Roope Hintz returned to the lineup after missing the previous game due to a foot injury.
Oilers forward Zach Hyman left the game in the second period after being on the receiving end of a hit from Stars forward Mason Marchment. Edmonton also was without forward Connor Brown.