Wyatt Johnston and Esa Lindell scored, Jamie Benn had two assists, and Jake Oettinger made 24 saves for the Stars, who’re the No. 1 seed from the Central Division.
“We’ll reset right here, going to be taught from it, and we’ve obtained an incredible alternative in entrance of us,” Benn mentioned. “Finest-of-3 on dwelling ice right here, so we’re wanting ahead to it.”
Dallas took a 1-0 lead on the primary shot of the sport 58 seconds into the primary interval. Johnston skated right into a lofted cross from Benn simply contained in the blue line earlier than beating Skinner glove facet from the left circle.
Lindell made it 2-0 at 5:29 with a wrist shot from the left level that deflected in off the again of Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse.
“We obtained up 2-0, obtained the beginning we wished, however I don’t assume we had sufficient guys taking part in at a excessive sufficient degree,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer mentioned. “The remainder of the sport they have been the higher staff. That’s the underside line.”
McLeod, who was a wholesome scratch in Recreation 3, lower it to 2-1 at 13:30 of the primary. He lifted in a puck on the proper submit after Oettinger could not cowl the rebound of Corey Perry’s shot from the precise circle.
It was the primary level of the playoffs for each McLeod and Perry, who had been a wholesome scratch the earlier 5 video games.
Bouchard tied it 2-2 at 16:17 of the primary, scoring into an open web after a shot by McDavid produced an enormous rebound off Oettinger’s left pad.