Connor McDavid’s Game 3 performance powers Oilers to a 6–1 rout of the Stars
Oilers captain Connor McDavid delivers two goals in dominant Game 3 win over Dallas Stars to lead Edmonton to a 2-1 series advantage.
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| Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers skates against the Dallas Stars during the second period of Game Three in the Western Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on May 25, 2025, in Edmonton, Alberta. Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images |
By Randy Ahmad and Widya Putri
When the Edmonton Oilers need a big performance, Connor McDavid delivers. And on Sunday night in Game 3 of the Western Conference final, McDavid reminded everyone why he remains the most electrifying player in the NHL. His two-goal outburst spearheaded a 6–1 dismantling of the Dallas Stars and pushed Edmonton into a 2–1 series lead.
The Connor McDavid Game 3 performance was not just a display of elite scoring—it was a statement. Long known for his playmaking brilliance, McDavid added a sharp goal-scoring edge to his game in front of an ecstatic Rogers Place crowd. The victory was as much about McDavid’s timely finishing as it was about the Oilers’ balanced attack, relentless forechecking, and defensive stability.
McDavid unlocks another offensive level
Though McDavid’s 100-assist campaign last season cemented his status as the game’s ultimate setup man, his offensive toolkit has always included a lethal scoring touch. That weapon was on full display Sunday, as he scored two emphatic goals—the sixth multi-goal playoff performance of his career.
“He’s so good at creating space that he’s often looking for someone else,” said Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who assisted on McDavid’s first goal. “But when the time’s right, he puts it in himself—and tonight, the time was right.”
Indeed, McDavid wasted little time making an impact. His first goal came in the opening period, when he turned a three-on-one opportunity into a highlight-reel sequence. After knocking down Thomas Harley and blowing past him, McDavid finished a give-and-go with Nugent-Hopkins with a blistering one-timer over Jake Oettinger’s shoulder, giving Edmonton a 2–0 lead just 36 seconds after the opener.
His second goal came at a crucial moment late in the second period. The Stars had clawed one back and were pressing for the equalizer when McDavid seized on a loose puck, beat the defender wide, and lasered a shot stick-side past Oettinger with just 18.8 seconds left before intermission. That tally was the ultimate momentum-shifter and a gut punch to the Stars.
“Connor’s second goal really changed the energy in the room,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. “You could see the belief in the group swell. It was a big moment.”
A complete team effort, but McDavid set the tone
Though McDavid’s performance stole headlines, the Oilers’ Game 3 win was the result of cohesive team play. Linemates Zach Hyman and Nugent-Hopkins combined for six points—three apiece—and Hyman added ten hits and was a plus-5 on the night. It was Edmonton’s best all-around effort of the postseason.
And yet, the spotlight belonged to McDavid. He now has 22 points in 14 games this postseason, leading all players in assists with 17. Despite scoring just five goals so far, his ability to dictate pace, draw defenders, and create space continues to be unmatched. His Connor McDavid Game 3 performance reminded the hockey world that even if he’s not scoring nightly, he’s impacting every shift.
“People forget he’s a 60-goal guy,” Hyman said, referencing McDavid’s Rocket Richard Trophy-winning campaign in 2022–23. “He makes the smart play—pass or shoot. Tonight, it was shoot. And when he decides to shoot, good luck stopping him.”
Goaltending holds firm with Skinner's heroics
On a night when Edmonton’s offense clicked into high gear, it was easy to overlook the steadiness of Stuart Skinner in goal. But the Oilers netminder turned in arguably his best performance of the playoffs, stopping 33 shots and denying the Stars on 14 high-danger chances.
Skinner’s saves early in the second period helped preserve the Oilers’ two-goal lead before McDavid’s second goal deflated the visitors. After being reinserted into the starting role during the last series due to injury, Skinner has been rock-solid, with four strong outings in his last six games.
“Stuart was excellent,” said McDavid. “We feed off those big saves. He gives us confidence to push up ice.”
Oilers rediscover scoring depth
Beyond McDavid and the top line, the Oilers’ Game 3 win also featured contributions from across the lineup. Defenseman John Klingberg’s late power-play goal made him the 18th different Oilers player to score in the postseason. That depth will be vital as the series continues and matchups tighten.
The Oilers are now showing that they can win in various ways: with McDavid magic, physical play, stifling defense, or superb goaltending. Their ability to adapt—and dominate—has put the Stars on notice.
Knoblauch acknowledged that McDavid’s breakout was overdue, noting that his underlying numbers, particularly expected goals and quality chances, had remained elite even as the goals weren’t coming.
“You knew it was going to come,” Knoblauch said. “He’s been doing everything right. Sometimes they don’t go in, and sometimes they all go in. Tonight was the night.”
McDavid’s playoff scoring narrative continues to evolve
Much has been made of McDavid’s assist-heavy playoff performances, but his Game 3 showing shifts that narrative. It was reminiscent of the goal-scoring brilliance he displayed in the series opener against the Los Angeles Kings, where he scored once and added three assists in a thrilling comeback attempt.
Since then, he had found the net only twice—once on a broken play and once into an empty net. But with Sunday’s performance, the Oilers captain now has five goals in the 2025 playoffs, and his form could be peaking at the perfect time.
“He was fantastic,” Skinner said. “You see how he impacts the game in all three zones. He’s doing it all, and it’s inspiring.”
And while his primary focus remains on helping teammates succeed, McDavid’s elite finishing reminds everyone that the best player in the world can still take over a game when he wants.
Stars on their heels heading into Game 4
The Dallas Stars, meanwhile, are reeling. Game 3 was their worst loss of the postseason, and their defensive lapses were repeatedly exposed. Head coach Pete DeBoer called McDavid’s second goal a “back-breaker,” and the Stars will need to regroup quickly to avoid a 3–1 hole.
For now, the Oilers have seized momentum, and Connor McDavid’s Game 3 performance might go down as the turning point in this series.
Whether by assist or goal, McDavid continues to be the central figure in the Oilers’ playoff journey. But when he scores like he did Sunday night, Edmonton becomes a near-unstoppable force.
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