Oilers & Stars 2024 Western Conference Final Pregame Notes — Game 2 – Hockey Writers – NHL News

The Edmonton Oilers are looking to take a 2-0 series lead against the Dallas Stars in the 2024 Western Conference Finals. The Stars are on home ice at the American Airlines Center. Let’s look at some fun facts before the game begins.

The Stars are now 10-21 in Game 2 history after dropping the first game of a seven-game series. As for the Oilers, they held a 22-3 record in the postseason when they won the first game of the series. Interestingly, when Dallas has home ice advantage in a series, they have a 9-5 record. When Edmonton was a road team, they went 8-3.

Jake Oettinger is looking for his 22nd win over the Stars in the playoffs, looking for only the second most in team history since the Minnesota North Stars. Ed Belfour has a significant lead with 44.

If Zach Hyman scores, it will be his second shutout in four games in the playoffs. Only Jari Kurri, Craig Simpson, and Esa Tikkanen have had more goals in four games.

Looking at the big picture, the 2024 Conference Finals is the first time each team has had a drought of at least 20 seasons. The Stars’ most recent championship was in 1999, while the Florida Panthers have not won a Stanley Cup since their inception in 1993-94.

Since 2022, the Stars have opened the streak with seven straight losses. If they can come back and beat the Oilers, they will become the ninth team ever to reach the Stanley Cup Final despite losing the opening game of at least three series. The only teams to win the Stanley Cup in this state were the 2018 Washington Capitals, the 2011 Boston Bruins, and the 1991 Pittsburgh Penguins.

If the Oilers win, it will be the sixth time in franchise history that they have taken a 2-0 series lead before the Stanley Cup Finals. In the five times they have done so, they have gone on to win the Stanley Cup three times.

Finally, for the second consecutive playoff, 13 of the 14 series in the Conference Final went to overtime. Only the 2013, 2014, 2021, and 2023 postseasons have had a series of 14 or more overtime contests.

Stats and facts courtesy of NHL PR