Game 7: Edmonton vs. Dallas — Who Will Advance to the Western Conference Final?
Tonight, the fate of the ticket to the Western Conference Final will be decided. The Edmonton Oilers host the Dallas Stars in Game 7 of their series. The winner will face Vegas for the Stanley Cup.
Main Event
Edmonton Oilers vs. Dallas Stars: Game 7 for the right to face Vegas in the Western Conference Final!
Tonight, May 25, 2026, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, the decisive Game 7 of the Western Conference Final series of the National Hockey League will take place. The Edmonton Oilers host the Dallas Stars in the third game of the best-of-seven series — the series is tied 3-3, and the winner of tonight's game advances to the Stanley Cup Final, where they will face the Vegas Golden Knights.
This series has become one of the most intense in the current playoffs. Both teams have shown resilience: the Oilers have come back twice in the series, while the Stars have displayed their power at home, including a dominant 7-2 win in the regular season. But now everything is on the line — the Stanley Cup is one step closer for one of these teams.
Details and Statistics
This series began for the Oilers with a tough path to the conference final. Recall that in the previous playoff round, Edmonton eliminated the Vancouver Canucks, securing a comeback victory in Game 7 with a score of 3-2 and clinching a spot in the Western Conference Final. That game was a true test of resilience for the Oilers, which they passed successfully.
After exiting the second round, the teams traded wins in the first six games of the conference final. According to sources, in Saturday's game (May 23), the Oilers defeated the Stars 5-4, with Zach Hyman scoring a double and adding an assist, while Connor McDavid recorded a goal and an assist. Stuart Skinner stopped 22 of 26 shots, but Edmonton nearly squandered a 5-1 lead after two periods — Dallas cut the deficit to one goal in the third period but could not tie the game.
For Dallas, keep an eye on Mikko Rantanen — the Finnish forward, acquired by the Stars at the trade deadline from Carolina, signed an eight-year contract worth $96 million and already scored a goal and an assist in Saturday's game. Roope Hintz, Dallas's top center, suffered a facial injury in the second period of that game and did not return to the ice — his participation in Game 7 remains questionable.
Key Series Statistics:
- Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton) extended his point streak to 14 consecutive games, tying his personal record.
- Connor McDavid has recorded 80 points for the ninth consecutive season — a feat achieved by only three players in NHL history: Wayne Gretzky (13 seasons), Dale Hawerchuk (13), and Phil Esposito (11).
- Miro Heiskanen (Dallas) has been logging over 40 minutes of ice time in key playoff games, serving as the Stars' defensive iron man.
Context and Significance
For Edmonton, reaching the Stanley Cup Final would be a landmark event. The club has not won the NHL's top trophy since 1990, when Wayne Gretzky himself played for the Oilers. The current roster features two of the world's best players (McDavid and Draisaitl), who have been considered top contenders for the Cup for several years but have only reached the conference final once — in 2022, when they lost to Colorado.
Dallas, meanwhile, won the Stanley Cup in 1999 and has since reached the final only once (2020, losing to Tampa). The Stars are considered one of the league's most balanced teams, with a strong defense (Heiskanen, Harley, Lindell) and depth — which allowed them to push the series to Game 7.
The opponent for the winner is already known: the Vegas Golden Knights won their Western Conference Final series 4-2 and are waiting. For Edmonton, this would be their first conference final against Vegas, while Dallas has faced the Knights in the playoffs in 2020 and 2023.
What's Next
Game 7 takes place tonight — May 25, 2026. The opening faceoff at Rogers Place in Edmonton is scheduled for 8:00 PM local time (MSK +9 hours).
The winner will face the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final. The series begins on May 28 at Vegas's home arena — T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada (if Dallas advances as the team with the better regular season record) or at Rogers Place (if Edmonton wins with home-ice advantage).
Editorial Prediction
Game 7 is always a lottery, but statistics and current form tilt the scales in favor of Edmonton. First, Game 7 is on the Oilers' home ice, where the support of 18,000 fans provides a huge advantage. Second, Roope Hintz's injury for Dallas is a loss of a key center who was tasked with shutting down McDavid's line. Third, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are in the form of the planet's best hockey players, and in decisive games, stars must shine. The key factor is goaltending: Stuart Skinner vs. Jake Oettinger. Whoever has stronger nerves in the third period will win. Our prediction: Edmonton wins 4-3 and advances to the Western Conference Final.
— Editorial Team
