In Edmonton, the Oilers responded to the pressure being applied by the Los Angeles Kings in the Pacific Division seeding.
The Oilers downed the Dallas Stars on Wednesday, 5-2, to push their lead for second place to four points.
“They’ve been off for three days and they had lots of jump in their legs tonight,” Dallas coach Rick Bowness said. “We have to spend a little more time in their zone, we have to slow them up in the neutral zone, and then we have to end plays quicker in our zone; we have to get on them quicker. They had good jump and they were beating us to loose pucks, and they were able to keep moving the puck on the outside, and you have to try to end those plays as quick as you can.”
Mike Smith made 34 saves in the Oilers win.
For Smith it was seventh straight win.
Evander Kane and Derek Ryan scored to give the Oilers a 2-0 lead in the first period.
“I thought we were on our toes, we looked rested and we came out of the gate hot,” Edmonton coach Jay Woodcroft said. “All four lines, 11 forwards, were going. We simplified things early in the game and it allowed us to assert our will on the other team.”
Dallas’ Jason Robertson scored in the first period to get the Stars within one, and Roope Hintz scored in the middle frame for a 2-2 tie.
The Oilers improved to 45-26-6.
Zach Hyman g and Jesse Puljujarvi countered the Stars’ rally with a pair of goals before the end of the second period for a 4-2 lead to Edmonton.
The Stars dropped to 43-29-5.
“I think as a group we can do better in all areas,” the Stars’ Esa Lindell said. “They got a lot of shots today (50) and we need to be better at all the basics. When they had the longer possession our shifts got longer, and when we got into that three-quarter game, that’s when we’re going to pay for it. You get tired and they were able to get more chances.”
Connor McDavid added a late empty-net goal for the 5-2 final.
“We’ve talked a lot about that stuff here,” McDavid said. “It is what it is, and we have been here and done that, and we are trying to play good hockey and win games, and that is ultimately what we are focused on.”
Coming off a three-day break in the schedule, the Oilers jumped on Dallas early.
“I thought we got off to a good start and put them on their heels,” McDavid said. “They pushed back, and I liked our response when they pushed. It was another good game, a similar type of story as the last ones. I think guys are confident right now. Up and down the lineup, guys feel good about their own game and feel good about our team game.”
Scott Wedgewood made 45 saves in the Dallas loss.
“It’s playoffs, they have already started for us, so it’s obviously disappointing because every game is huge for us,” the Stars’ Radek Faksa said. “We have to be tighter defensively and do what we have to to keep the puck out of our net.”
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