Nugent-Hopkins leads the Oilers to break the series in Dallas
In the fifth game of the Stanley Cup Western Finals, Edmonton won 3-1 against Dallas as the visiting team, taking a 3-2 lead in the series.
The ongoing final series in both conferences are unfolding remarkably similarly. With an early lead followed by multiple momentum shifts, it’s reminiscent of the Florida and Edmonton series. In the fifth game, Florida managed to take a 3-2 lead in the series, positioning themselves to potentially secure a spot in the grand final in the upcoming home game.
THE EDMONTON OILERS ARE ONE WIN AWAY FROM THE STANLEY CUP FINAL! 🫨 pic.twitter.com/vvHX2FPZiH
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 1, 2024
Interestingly, these series highlight that in the NHL playoffs, home-ice advantage may not be as decisive as commonly believed, as evidenced by the prevalence of momentum shifts over home team victories.
Edmonton’s performance in Texas was mainly out of the ordinary, with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins playing a pivotal role. As a standout player on a team once led by the legendary Wayne Gretzky, Nugent-Hopkins was instrumental in creating a significant initial lead. His goals in the 15th and 22nd minutes brought the score to 2-0, with Swede Philip Broberg extending the lead to 3-0 just four minutes later. This indicated that the Stars would be up against a mighty challenge if they attempted to stage a comeback.
Even though Dallas managed to narrow the score to 3-1 with Johnston’s goal six minutes before the end, there was nothing else that the Texan players could do. The upcoming sixth game in Edmonton gives the Oilers the potential to secure their first appearance in the grand final in 18 years with a victory.