Going into Game 4, being down a game on the road would normally not feel like a do-or-die situation for any team. The Dallas Stars have not been playing like any team during in their last two loses in the Western Conference Finals. While much was made about the depth the Stars had going into the series, that same depth has not shown itself as the Stars have failed to counter the offensive outpouring from the Oilers.
The Stars kicked off the first period of Game 4 by firing off 16 shots. While Dallas looked as if they would be setting the tone with the barrage of shots on goal, it would not be enough as Edmonton would end up getting on the board first, and scoring another goal in the second period to take a two-goal lead. Dallas would score their lone goal of the game, coming from Jason Robertson in the second period.
The reasoning for the Stars now being on the verge of elimination is not so much because of what they have done, but more so because of what they're not doing. The Stars have gone from a team who will lay out any opposing puckhandler, to a team who is one step behind. Their past strategy of relying on Mikko Rantanen to produce on a nightly basis has now come to bite them as the Finnish forward's well as dried up with no one else coming to the rescue. While the Stars have a lot of playoff hockey left to play, it is becoming more and more evident with each loss to the Oilers that the Stars are built for the playoffs, and not built for a Stanley Cup. If the Stars intend to play hockey beyond Thursday's Game 5 contest, they will need to shake up the game plan, or risk setting down their skates for golf clubs.