Connor McDavid had a goal and an assist, and Draisaitl and Jake Walman each had two assists for Edmonton, which is the No. 3 seed from the Pacific Division. Stuart Skinner made 14 saves.
Jason Robertson scored twice, and Wyatt Johnston and Thomas Harley each had two assists for Dallas, which was the No. 2 seed from the Central Division.
The Stars were eliminated in the conference final for the third straight season. They lost to the Oilers in this round last season in six games.
“I think it’s possible to be two things at the same time,” Dallas coach Pete DeBoer said. “I’m really proud of the resiliency of our group through the first two rounds. We scratched and clawed and found a way to beat two really good teams. And I’m also disappointed that we didn’t find another level, another gear here, another way. Getting back here to this point, how hard it is to get back here. I would say I’m both those things. I think that’s OK, and I think our group needs to go and — coaches, players — and reflect in the summer on what we can do better when we get to this point against the best teams. But there’s no doubt the two best teams are playing for the Cup.”
Jake Oettinger allowed two goals on the first two shots he faced for the Stars before being replaced by Casey DeSmith (17 saves on 20 shots) at 7:09 of the first.
“[Oettinger] didn’t have a chance,” Johnston said. “We weren’t good enough in front of him. Not what you want to do in an elimination game. You need results come playoff time. You’re not going to win games from just [outshooting], outchancing teams. You need to score. Everyone talks about how much tighter it gets come playoff time and how much harder it is to score. It would have been nice, especially for me, to help the boys out and get a couple throughout the series.”
Corey Perry gave Edmonton a 1-0 lead on the power play at 2:31 of the first period, scoring on a tap-in off McDavid’s pass out of the left corner.
“We’re mature,” Perry said. “We’ve learned and we’re learning every game. The way we’re playing, the calmness on the bench, making plays when things are going hairy on the ice. This group, it’s been a want since the end of last year. There’s been a lot of thinking about what happened last year and self-reflecting. Here we are.
“We’re deep, we’re a different team. There are different players in here, a different feel. But you still have to go out and do the right things, and everybody has to continue to pull on that rope.”
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