West final in NHL playoffs even going into Game 3 after contrasting results for Oilers and Stars

Edmonton forward Zach Hyman feels like the Oilers probably played better in the opener of the Western Conference final than in the second game that they won.

Dallas Stars coach Pete DeBoer had a similar feeling about that game his team lost.

After those contrasting outcomes, the West final rematch is even going into Game 3 in Edmonton on Sunday afternoon.

“I don't think I've ever played a playoff matinee game. Everybody’s in the same boat,” Hyman said. “We’ve got to come out strong. We’re at home. I’m sure the crowd will be excited. We’ll be ready. There’s no excuses. Doesn’t matter if you play in five overtimes and you’ve got to play in two days.”

No overtimes were needed in the first two games in Dallas, where the high-scoring Oilers felt good about five of their six periods and showed again that they can indeed play defense.

Edmonton has shutout wins in three of its last four games, including Stuart Skinner's 25 saves in the 3-0 win over Dallas on Friday night after he blanked Vegas in the final two games to wrap up the second round. The only real blemish in that span was the Stars' five-goal third period for a 6-3 win in the series opener when they went ahead with three power-play goals in a span of 5 1/2 minutes.

“Stu was phenomenal. The chances they did get, he shut the door, obviously,” Hyman said. “And, yeah, special teams is really important in the playoffs. We’ve been probably one of the best 5-on-5 teams in the playoffs so far. If we can shore up the special teams, which we’re usually pretty good at, we’re in a good spot.”

Even though it was the fourth time this postseason the Stars got shut out, they gave up a power-play goal less than 6 minutes into the game and the two Edmonton goals just over a minute apart in the second period came off a blocked shot and then a tip at the front of the net.

“We had some looks, too, where (Skinner) made some saves. Sure, when you get shutout, you can do a better job in front of their goalie,” DeBoer said. "But I don’t think the score was as dramatically reflective of the game as you maybe (perceived), but that’s just my opinion.”

After the Stars got Miro Heiskanan and Jason Robertson back from injuries in the second round, there now are concerns about top-line center Roope Hintz. He left the ice in the third period of Game 2 without putting any weight on his left leg after Edmonton defender Darnell Nurse slashed him on top of his skate.

As the team was preparing to board its flight to Canada on Saturday, DeBoer said Hintz was getting tests. It was unclear if Hintz was flying or had any chance of playing with such a short turnaround between games.

“Honestly, I don’t know until we get these test results," DeBoer said.

A day after saying postgame that the slashing penalty should have been a 5-minute major instead of the 2-minute minor that was enforced, DeBoer said he hasn't changed his mind.

“I see it exactly what I saw last night," he said. "And I stand by exactly what I said last night.”

The Stars started Game 2 with all five of their Finnish players on the ice together. That was their top line of Hintz, Mikko Rantanen and Mikael Granlund, along with defensemen Heiskanen and Esa Lindell.

It was the first time since the NHL began tracking starters in 1997-98, in either a regular-season or playoff game, that all five starting skaters were from Finland.

Lindell on his 31st birthday played in his 100th career playoff game, becoming the ninth player in Stars franchise history and the ninth Finnish player in NHL history to reach that mark. He was denied a goal when Skinner made a tremendous stick save after lunging across the crease to close off what had been an open net with 9 1/2 minutes left.

“I did know that I stopped it," Skinner said. “I didn’t know how close it exactly was.”

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the 100-point teammates in the regular season, both had an assist in Game 2 to reach 20 points in these playoffs. That matched the most in the NHL with Rantanen, who has now gone five games without a goal and only two assists.

McDavid's four consecutive 20-point postseasons match the longest stretch in NHL history with Sergei Fedorov (1995-98), Bryan Trottier (1980-83) and Mike Bossy (1980-83). Draisaitl hit the 20-point mark for the second year in a row, and third time in his career.

Draisaitl is the Oilers' top scorer with six, while McDavid has three goals and 17 assists. When defenseman Brett Kulak scored in Game 3, he was the 17th different Edmonton player with a goal this postseason.

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Edmonton Oilers right wing Connor Brown (28) celebrates his goal with teammate center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (93) against the Dallas Stars during the second period in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs, Friday, May 23, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner eyes the puck during an attack by Dallas Stars in the third period of Game 2 of the Western Conference finals in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs, Friday, May 23, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (74) gathers with teammates, from left defenseman Evan Bouchard, defenseman John Klingberg (36) and left wing Evander Kane (91) following a 3-0 win over the Dallas Stars in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs, Friday, May 23, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Dallas Stars center Colin Blackwell (15) tussles with Edmonton Oilers defenseman Jake Walman (96) and center Trent Frederic (21) during the first period in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Friday, May 23, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

SYDNEY (AP) — Australia completed a 4-1 Ashes series victory with a five-wicket win in the fifth and final cricket test on Thursday.

The Australians bowled England out for 342 on the fifth morning of the series finale and were chasing 160 for victory.

Tension grew with a succession of wickets and a contentious DRS review before Alex Carey hit the winning runs to guide the Australians to 161 for five in 31 overs.

Carey finished unbeaten on 16, Cameron Green was unbeaten on 22, and 39-year-old Usman Khawaja was sent into retirement with a victory.

The Australians retained the Ashes with wins in the first three tests, but England was determined to narrow the margin after its drought-breaking win in the Boxing Day match at Melbourne.

The 39-year-old veteran walked to the crease after Steve Smith was bowled by Will Jacks and Australia was 92-3. He was given a guard of honor from the England players lining his way to the pitch, shook hands with Stokes and then gave teammate Marnus Labuschagne a hug.

He got off the mark with a paddled reverse sweep to the boundary and edged another ball between the wicketkeeper and Stokes at first slip for another 2.

Labuschagne had a chance on 20 when he slashed at a short ball from Tongue and was dropped by Bethell. Labuschagne took 16 off the next over, bowled by Jacks to get the chase down to 41.

That's when Khawaja was out — his last innings lasting seven deliveries and netting six runs — when he dragged a delivery from Josh Tongue onto his stumps. He kneeled and kissed the turf in front of a “Thankyou Uzzy” sign that was painted onto the field, and walked back to the pavilion for the last time after 88 test matches.

Labuschagne was then run out for 37 off 40 balls when he drove to mid-off and took off for a single, only to get sent back by Carey.

At that stage, Australia was 121-5 and tension was building until Carey and Green guided the hosts home.

England resumed on Day 5 at 302-8, a lead of 119 runs, and was bowled out for 342, a 159-run lead with 2 1/2 sessions remaining.

Mitchell Starc dismissed Jacob Bethell for 154 and Tongue (6) to finish off the England innings and finish the series with 31 wickets at an average of 19.9. The haul of wickets and some important runs earned him the player of the series honors.

The Australians started their second innings quickly, scoring 10 in the first over — including a pair of boundaries from Travis Head, who has scored three centuries in the series.

Head was caught in the deep for 29 and finished with 629 runs across five tests.

After getting a major reprieve on a contentious DRS decision on 16, Jake Weatherald misjudged a short ball from Tongue and his top edge was caught out for 34.

England’s continued bad luck with the decision review system added extra spice to the last day of the series.

England reviewed umpire Ahsan Raza’s not out decision to a caught behind appeal when Weatherald wafted at a delivery from Brydon Carse with Australia on 33-0.

DRS technology appeared to show a slight murmur when the ball passed the toe of Weatherald’s bat before going through to the wicketkeeper. But TV umpire Kumar Dharmasena deemed there was inconclusive evidence the ball touched the bat.

The England players were stunned, after watching the DRS replays on the stadium screens, and Stokes had to step in to move Carse away from umpire Raza as he demanded an explanation. Stokes calmly approached the umpire, discussed the decision-making process, and got on with the game.

The total crowd across five days of the fifth test was 211,032, a record for the Sydney Cricket Ground.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Australia Usman Khawaja kisses the turf as he leaves the field during play on the last day of the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia's Jake Weatherald bats during play on the last day of the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

England's Brydon Carse, right, and teammate Ben Stokes talk to umpire Ahsan Raza during play on the last day of the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

England's Matthew Potts, left, gestures to teammate Jacob Bethell after he was dismissed during play on the last day of the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

England's Jacob Bethell bats during play on the last day of the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

England's Jacob Bethell bats during play on the last day of the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)