Stars vs Oilers Picks and Prediction – 5/25/2025

The Western Conference Final heads to Rogers Place for Game 3 with the series knotted at 1-1. The Dallas Stars dropped Game 2 at home 3-0 after winning the opener 6-3. The Edmonton Oilers bounced back strong, pitching a shutout behind solid defense and looking to ride that momentum on home ice. Puck drops at 1:00 PM EST. Hit the ice running with our NHL picks.

Dallas comes into this one after splitting the first two games of the series at home. The Stars looked sharp in Game 1, putting six past Stuart Skinner, but failed to score in Game 2. Jake Oettinger will be under pressure to keep things tight, especially with Roope Hintz still day-to-day and missing from the lineup. The Stars are 22-16-3 on the road this season and need to find consistency fast.

Defensively, Dallas holds the edge in goals against at 2.71 per game and sports a strong 82.0% penalty kill. Jason Robertson leads the team with 35 goals, while Matt Duchene tops the points and assists columns with 82 points and 52 assists. Oettinger has been reliable with a 2.59 GAA and .909 save percentage, but he’ll need help from the defense, especially with Nils Lundkvist still on IR.

Edmonton responded to its Game 1 loss by shutting the Stars out in Game 2, led by Leon Draisaitl’s dominance and a more disciplined defensive effort. The Oilers are 25-13-3 at Rogers Place and will rely heavily on home ice advantage to take the series lead. The biggest concern is missing defenseman Mattias Ekholm and backup goalie Calvin Pickard for Game 3.

The Oilers average 3.16 goals per game and lead the Stars in shots with 32.0 per game. Draisaitl led the Oilers all season, posting 52 goals and 106 points, while Connor McDavid led with 74 assists. Despite Stuart Skinner’s .896 save percentage, the Oilers’ offense and 23.7% power play have covered for defensive lapses. The penalty kill, sitting at 78.2%, remains a soft spot.

Edmonton's home record and firepower up front give them the edge here, especially with Dallas missing Roope Hintz and struggling to score in Game 2. The Oilers have more scoring depth and a better power play. Expect Draisaitl and McDavid to create problems and for the Oilers to take advantage of home ice. Final Score Prediction: Edmonton Oilers wins 4-2.