In Dallas, Ryan Suter’s shot form the left point found its way to Mason Marchment at the left side of the Edmonton Oilers’ crease at 23:41 of the third period. 
“There’s not many better feelings than scoring in a playoff game,” Marchment said. “We’ll take that one and forget about it and move on to the next one. We’ve got a big game coming up.”
Marchment tipped the shot home for a 2-1 lead to the Stars, en route to a 3-1 win in Game 2 of the Western Conference Final series.
The two teams now head to Edmonton for Games 3 and 4, starting Monday.
“The margins are small. It’s tight games. The difference is a little tip in front and that’s it,” the Oilers’ Connor McDavid said. “I guess that’s a positive (to split the first two games). Never like to lose. We had a big opportunity here tonight and we didn’t capitalize.”
Eda Lindell hit an empty net with 2:09 left on the game clock for the final score.
Jake Oettinger made 28 saves in the win.
“It’s not always going to go your way every night. It’s about not letting it be two nights in a row,” Oettinger said. “Everyone’s got to respond, not just me. It’s not just me that’s responded. It’s the group in front of me and the guys and the leadership from the top down that kind of starts that.”
Dallas took an early 1-0 lead in the game.
Jamie Benn sent a shot form atop the right circle that hit twice at 3:39 of the opening stanza for the one-goal lead.
“He’s led the way all year, particularly in the playoffs. I think he’s found another level for us. He’s been great,” Dallas coach Pete DeBoer said. “He’s been a beast out there every series we’ve been in. He’s changed the momentum of each of the series in different ways. Couple of huge hits in the Vegas series. I think in the Colorado series it was a huge goal or a big play, big block. Tonight, just getting that line going and getting some offensive zone time since we had spent the entire first period, I felt, in our own end.”
The goal came off an odd man rush up ice by the Stars.
“Maybe [the Stars] just elevated their game. I thought we had some opportunities, especially late,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. “I know [Mattias Ekholm] rang one off the stick, a couple of blocked shots. We might not have had as many shots as we had in the first period, but for a tight-checking third period where they’re protecting the lead, we did have some opportunities.”
That lead lasted all of 44 seconds.
Connor Brown tied the game, 1-1, scoring off a rebound of a shot by Cody Ceci.
“I don’t think we were getting dominated at any point. They’re a good team, they’re going to come with pushes this series,” Brown said. “… I thought that game could’ve gone either way.”
The Oilers were scoreless on two power plays, Dallas failed to score on their lone opportunity.
“We don’t win that game, obviously, without [Oettinger] tonight,” Benn said. “They came out strong. Jake was unbelievable. Started playing a little better in the second and third, kind of got to our game. Once we did that, we were better.”
Stuart Skinner made 22 saves in the loss.
“We’re back in our barn. It’s going to be exciting. I’m sure the fans are excited,” Ekholm said. “Try to use the energy from the fans, keep building our game. … We got in here, we got our split. We feel good about that. Now it’s time to raise our level when we get home and dictate the game.”
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