Three Thoughts - Oilers Push Stars To Brink

In Game 5, Dallas needed a big performance and could not find much of one at all.

We expected Dallas to raise its game in Game 5 to meet the challenge in front of them. This was a game that perhaps didn’t fall to the “must win” category, but if it did not, it was very close.

If Dallas wanted to seize control of the Western Conference Finals, they had to stop the bleeding of Game 4 as they returned home in Game 5.

They absolutely did not. And now, they are facing their first elimination situation in Edmonton on Sunday Night. Because they were beaten rather soundly on Friday in Dallas, 3-1, by the Edmonton Oilers who now take a 3-2 lead in this series going home and leaving Dallas to play from behind this deep in a series since their dream died last year in this very same round.

These are My Three Thoughts:

–Disappointing and flat were not the two adjectives we were thinking we might have to use to talk about how they played Game 5, but after witnessing the game, I am not sure there are too many better ways to describe it. They never were able to dictate terms or force their will on the Oilers. In a moment where they could demonstrate their championship pedigree, they were unable to rise to the occasion.

The Stars were never able to bring the attacks on net and to cause chaos in their home rink. They were never able to generate enough chances to reap the benefits and get a lead. They were docile offensively and eventually caved in defensively. They never seemed fully up for the challenge and before long, the arena picked up on the cue and an ominous cloud rolled in.