featured-image

DALLAS — Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers are set to meet the well-balanced — and well-rested — Dallas Stars in the NHL’s Western Conference final. The Oilers needed all seven games to dispatch the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and advance after the Stars took care of the Colorado Avalanche in six last week. After more than two decades of cooled tensions, the franchises are set to renew playoff hostilities Thursday.

Edmonton and Dallas met six times in seven post-seasons between 1997 and 2003. The Oilers took the first matchup in dramatic fashion before the Stars made a habit of advancing to the next round. The Canadian Press looks back at those series: 1997 — Oilers win first-round series 4-3 The underdog Oilers finished 23 points behind the Stars in the regular-season standings.



With the series tied 1-1, Edmonton trailed 3-0 late in Game 3 on home ice, but scored three times before captain Kelly Buchberger added the winner in overtime. The Oilers wasted a chance to put the Stars away in Game 6 following a 1-0 OT victory in Dallas to set up another extra-time thriller. After goaltender Curtis Joseph robbed Joe Nieuwendyk of a sure-fire series winner — “Oh my goodness!” late play-by-play man Bob Cole bellowed of the save from his broadcast perch — Edmonton forward Todd Marchant blew past a defender and scored the clincher to send his team to the second round.

1998 — Stars win second-round series 4-1 Dallas secured the Presidents’ Trophy with the NHL�.

Back to Fashion Page