Zach Hyman vs Jake Oettinger (Perry Nelson-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/51bdf3c7-c78a-4893-ba35-e468f5ecf1a3.jpeg] Zach Hyman vs Jake Oettinger (Perry Nelson-Imagn Images) EDMONTON – The time is finally here. The Edmonton Oilers [https://www.nhl.com/oilers/] will play the Dallas Stars [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/dallas-stars] in Game 1 of the 2025 Western Conference Final [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhl-playoff-predictions-2025-will-the-stars-or-oilers-win-the-western-conference-final] on Wednesday night. Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/] team site to never miss the latest news [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news], game-day [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/game-day] coverage, and more [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/players]. It’s been a week since the Oilers fed the Vegas Golden Knights [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vegas-golden-knights] their lunch money, in the form of a second consecutive shutout win [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/hopefully-it-shuts-a-lot-of-people-up-connor-mcdavid-on-oilers-stuart-skinner-s-big-comeback]. Now, they look to shut down the Stars in their barn. To kick off game day coverage, here are some Game 1 Predictions. TRENDING OILERS STORIES 3 Secrets For Oilers To Overcome The Stars [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/55c0a3d5-f2b0-430c-8925-cf9f50758414.webp] 3 Secrets For Oilers To Overcome The Stars EDMONTON – Let’s get down to business. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/3-secrets-for-oilers-to-overcome-the-stars] Oilers Best Defender Is A Unique Talent [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/oilers-best-defender-is-a-unique-talent] Oilers Better Sign Top Russian Prospect Soon [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/oilers-better-sign-top-russian-prospect-soon] Connor McDavid Dream Now Dies After Epic Maple Leafs Collapse [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/connor-mcdavid-dream-now-dies-after-epic-maple-leafs-collapse] 10 Worst Oilers' Trades & Signings By Ken Holland [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/10-worst-oilers-trades-signings-by-ken-holland] EXCLUSIVE: Mark Messier On Oilers, Budweiser, His Future & More [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/exclusive-mark-messier-on-oilers-budweiser-his-future-more] Oilers Coach Shows Love For Leon Draisaitl [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/oilers-coach-shows-love-for-leon-draisaitl] Oilers Announce Full 2025 Schedule vs. Dallas Stars [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/02496c57-e7dc-4854-8717-920c77edb20d.webp] Oilers Announce Full 2025 Schedule vs. Dallas Stars EDMONTON – What’s better than beating a rival once? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/oilers-announce-full-2025-schedule-vs-dallas-stars] OILERS VS. STARS LINEUP PREDICTIONS -I’m expecting the Oilers to put Connor McDavid [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/connor-mcdavids-wife-lauren-makes-big-announcement] and Leon Draisaitl [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/remarkable-messier-on-how-unique-oilers-mcdavid-draisaitl-really-are] back together to kick off the series. I also wouldn't trust the morning skate lines, as things can (and do) change in between the morning and the warm-up skate. -McDavid and Draisaitl have outscored the opposition 10-6 [https://www.naturalstattrick.com/linestats.php?fromseason=20242025&thruseason=20242025&stype=3&sit=5v5&score=all&rate=n&team=EDM&vteam=ALL&view=wowy&loc=B&gpfilt=none&fd=2025-04-19&td=2025-05-21&tgp=2000&strict=incl&p1=8478402&p2=8477934&p3=0&p4=0&p5=0] when together in the 2025 playoffs. McDavid without Draisaitl? They are outscored 2-4. -Another reason to make this change is that they will be the away team. Loading up the top line would indicate that they want to have a “power vs power” matchup against the Stars’ Mikko Rantanen [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/dallas-stars/latest-news/mikko-rantanens-cheeky-welcome-for-gabriel-landeskog]. Considering the depth that the Oilers have, this is a welcome challenge. -If there is ever a low-risk time to give Jeff Skinner another game, it’s this one. If he comes into the lineup (and that's a big if), I’d put him with McDavid and Draisaitl. -Jake Oettinger has allowed a lot of goals from in front of the net. Expect Zach Hyman, Evander Kane [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/oilers-evander-kane-fiancee-make-big-announcement], and Corey Perry [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/corey-perry-will-cost-oilers-more-in-new-year] to be in his kitchen all night, wearing him down. Oilers Reveal Lines Before Big Western Final [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/270e170e-bdde-4928-81e2-abf75df5c86e.webp] Oilers Reveal Lines Before Big Western Final EDMONTON – The more things change, the more they stay the same. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/oilers-reveal-lines-before-big-western-final] DEFENSE LINEUP NOTES -The Stars have the best powerplay of the four remaining teams (30.8 success rate). -Watch for Evan Bouchard [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/game-day/i-cant-comment-on-that-oilers-kris-knoblauch-refuses-to-throw-bouchard-under-the-bus] to play more shorthanded minutes. He played 3:32 on the penalty kill [https://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20242025/ES030244.HTM] in Game 4. The Golden Knights had three powerplays and did not score on any of them. -As long as everyone plays how Kris Knoblauch expects them too, I wouldn’t expect any shuffle in the pairings. If there is a shuffle, Troy Stecher [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/strong-oilers-defender-was-the-missing-piece] likely gets the short end of the stick. GAME 1 PREDICTIONS VS THE STARS - Hyman comes out like a wrecking ball, throwing 10 hits and scoring two goals, one of them the game winner. - McDavid comes out flying and scores the game's first goal. - Stuart Skinner [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/how-oilers-stuart-skinner-is-better-than-darcy-kuemper] starts the game strong in the net. He gets an unfortunate goal scored on him in the second period, but he locks it down otherwise. -Oilers defenders help him by limiting high-danger chances and keeping shots to the outside and medium range. - Final Score Prediction: 3-1 Oilers WHERE & WHEN TO WATCH OILERS VS STARS GAME 1 The game will be broadcast [https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/dal-vs-edm/2025/05/21/2024030321]on Wednesday at 6:00 PM [https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/dal-vs-edm/2025/05/21/2024030321] Mountain Time. Sportsnet, CBC, ESPN, and ESPN+ will carry the broadcast. Add us to your Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwn-DfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] favourites, and never miss a story.
