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Oilers on verge of Stanley Cup Final after 3-1 win over Stars / Photo: © GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
Oilers on verge of Stanley Cup Final after 3-1 win over Stars
Edmonton's Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored two power-play goals to help the Oilers beat the Dallas Stars 3-1 and take a 3-2 lead in the NHL Western Conference final on Friday.
The Oilers can clinch a trip to the Stanley Cup Final when they host game six of the best-of-seven series on Sunday.
Philip Broberg also scored and Stuart Skinner made 19 saves to help Edmonton triumph in Dallas.
In a series that hadn't seen a power-play goal by either team, Nugent-Hopkins backhanded a rebound into the net at 14:09 of the first period -- just 18 seconds after Dallas defenseman Ryan Suter incurred a penalty for roughing to give Edmonton the man advantage.
After Dallas defenseman Miro Heiskanen's delay of game, Nugent-Hopkins needed just 16 seconds to double the score, firing a wrist shot that went in off the right post at 1:06 of the second.
Broberg pushed the lead to 3-0 at 5:09 of the second, beating Stars goalie Jake Oettinger with a one-timer.
Wyatt Johnston pulled back a goal at 14:09 of the third when he deflected a Thomas Harley shot into the net.
Oettinger finished with 23 saves, but the Stars finished the night facing elimination.
While Dallas fell to 3-6 at home in the playoffs, they are 6-2 on the road and will be hoping for another away win to stay alive.
The winner of the series will face either the New York Rangers or Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final.
The Panthers lead their Eastern Conference final 3-2 going into game six on Saturday.
O. Karlsson--BTZ
