Now that’s playoff hockey. Game 3 was the very essence of what makes playoff hockey so good.

In a seven-game series against the same opponent, coaches get to observe what goes on in the games and then try tactics to reshape the game to their advantage. Dallas, having struggled at 5v5 at home, came into Edmonton with some adjustments to try and improve their fortunes against the Oilers.

Without a doubt, the changes had an impact, giving the Stars their best two periods in the series. However, as the game went on, the Oilers started to adjust to the changes and began to counter the Stars.

At the end of the day, the Oilers won the game 6-1, which is a score that flatters the home team’s performance for a good portion of the afternoon. However, a win is a win in the playoffs, and the Oilers now have a chance to put a stranglehold on this series on Tuesday. How did they overcome the Stars’ changes? Let’s go to the tape.

Prior to this series, we highlighted the Stars’ sophisticated offensive zone forecheck strategy. Typically, Dallas employed a conventional 1-2-2 setup, but they could seamlessly shift into a more aggressive 2-1-2 or even a bold 2-3 formation, especially when executing soft chips behind opposing defenders. The goal was always clear: pressure the retrieving defenseman from both sides, forcing turnovers either down low or along the boards by disrupting attempted rim plays.

In Games 1 and 2 in Dallas, the Stars executed this strategy by occasionally deploying the aggressive 2-1-2 soft chip forecheck but largely sticking to their trusted 1-2-2 approach. Game 3, however, marked a dramatic shift. Dallas aggressively leaned into their forecheck right from puck drop, consistently sending pucks softly into the Oilers’ zone and relentlessly pressuring defenders.

An early example of this aggressive mindset came against Walman, where the Stars skillfully placed a soft chip behind him and immediately squeezed him from both sides with forwards F1 and F2. Under pressure, Walman was forced into a rushed rim attempt. Dallas’ D1 decisively beat Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to the puck, aided by F3’s perfect positioning to cover defensively. With possession regained, the Stars quickly transitioned into their attacking structure, setting the tone for a bold, dynamic, and relentless offensive presence.

Here’s another example involving Stuart Skinner. Again, the Stars F1 takes a side, and as soon as he does, watch the F2 for the Stars. He immediately changes direction to seal the other side. The Oilers muffed the exchange, and the puck goes up the wall right to a spot where the Dallas F3 can roll down and gather up.

My sneaking suspicion is that one of the reasons the Stars went heavy on this tactic was Stuart Skinner’s puck handling in the first two games of the series. There would be lots of tape in Game 2 about how Skinner could be exposed on a heavy-pressure forecheck.

Here is one final example of the Stars’ pressure forecheck creating opportunities. In this case, Walman retreats behind the net with the puck. Klingberg properly flares out to the corner as an outlet. However, Walman fails to make the pass mostly because the pressure is on him quicker than he expects, and it creates a Stars opportunity.

For the first forty minutes of Game 3, the Stars executed their game plan to near perfection, using soft chip-ins and aggressive transition plays to dominate possession deep inside the Oilers’ zone. Everything was clicking for Dallas except the one thing that mattered most: The scoreboard.

But heading into the third period, the Oilers made a decisive adjustment. To neutralize the Stars’ aggressive forecheck, Edmonton began bringing their center deeper into their defensive zone. This strategic shift provided their defencemen with an extra outlet option and crucial support along the wall, creating quick, clean exits.

Watch this textbook example of Edmonton dismantling Dallas’s forecheck pressure. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, playing center, drops deep into the zone as Dallas chips the puck in. Notice how effectively he positions himself, ready to either receive a short-area pass from Nurse in the corner or provide immediate support to his winger along the boards. When the puck moves up the wall, the Oilers’ winger expertly shields off the pinching Dallas defender. Nugent-Hopkins, perfectly placed, receives a quick touch pass and immediately springs the Oilers into transition.

That’s how you counter relentless pressure and ignite a breakout.

This became a theme for the rest of the game. Here’s another clip involving Connor McDavid supporting his defence group twice in rapid succession.

In the first part, watch how McDavid works back hard to get the puck put in behind his defenceman. Because McDavid gets there so quickly, the Dallas forecheck cannot set up. As a result, McDavid can send the puck up the wall and out it goes.

The second example showed another smart way to beat this check. McDavid gets very low, signalling support to his defenceman. Instead of rimming or freezing the puck along the wall, the defenceman kicks it behind the net. McDavid picks it up, and the Oilers quickly move into transition.

This type of tactical battle formed the rest of the period. The Oilers did a much better job countering the Stars’ soft chip by bringing the center lower in the zone quicker to provide support to the defenceman on retrieval and to the wingers on the wall.

Another key adjustment Dallas made was ramping up their aggression deep inside the Oilers’ zone, positioning their defencemen lower to disrupt Edmonton’s breakout attempts. Often, this happened during scrums deep in Edmonton territory, where the Oilers had all five skaters collapsed around their net.

Recognizing that Edmonton’s forwards would struggle to quickly transition to offence from this defensive posture, the Stars boldly pressured the puck carrier immediately as he attempted to exit the zone.
Here’s a prime example from the game: Draisaitl picks up the puck and looks to rush up ice.

Watch closely as the Stars’ defenceman decisively steps forward, aggressively pinching to break up the counterattack. He succeeds, instantly turning defence into offence and launching another Dallas attack.

This happened a number of times, with Heiskanen and Harley being the most effective at stopping these escapes. This was the other major reason the Oilers struggled to leave the zone for most of periods one and two in this game.

Now, the problem with this tactic is its risk-reward profile. There are some teams where this might be a safer tactic. Against the Oilers, it can be very dangerous. Yesterday, it showed up at a critical time in the game.

In the third period, with the Oilers leading 3-1, a scramble occurs in front of the net. Evander Kane emerges from the pile with the puck, drawing in the Stars’ defense. Although Kane doesn’t fully execute the play, he manages to move the puck to the blueline. With the Stars’ defenders pulled out of position, Zach Hyman slips unnoticed to center ice, receives the pass, and scores on the breakaway to seal the win.

This high-risk tactic aims to maintain offensive zone pressure and generate scoring chances. The Stars emphasize it, even in less-than-ideal situations. For example, watch Thomas Harley at the Oilers’ blueline. Harley aggressively challenges the play, perhaps unaware that Evan Bouchard is positioned wide.

Still, he must recognize that if McDavid beats him, it creates a potential two-on-one. Harley’s decision to force the play here likely stems from the coaching emphasis on aggressive tactics. In this situation, it doesn’t pay off.

I will be very curious to see if the Stars continue with this style of play. It did not reward them tonight.

One critical factor influencing this game’s dynamics was the Oilers’ problematic habit of regrouping deep in their own zone. Occasionally, when facing minimal pressure, Edmonton tends to retreat backwards, allowing their opponents to push forward aggressively and create potential turnovers. This issue resurfaced in Game 3, partly due to the Stars’ intensified forechecking strategy, but also because of unforced errors by the Oilers.

Let’s examine a couple of clear examples.

In this first clip, Troy Stecher dumps the puck deep into the Oilers’ zone, placing it below the net. Darnell Nurse, positioned well behind the goal, sees the entire ice clearly and has multiple options available. Unfortunately, he chooses a riskier play.

Additionally, Adam Henrique is slow to respond, missing an opportunity to support Nurse by offering a short passing lane. Evander Kane compounds the issue further by making another questionable decision, despite having space to turn and clear the puck safely, he instead opts to pass backwards. Nurse misses the pass, resulting in a turnover and possession for Dallas.

This was an absolute unforced error by the Oilers.

Here’s another clip, and interestingly, it’s by the same line. In this case, I really do not understand Adam Henrique’s thinking. He needed to be much lower in the zone to give Kane support. Kane has no option, so he goes down to Nurse and moves the puck to Stecher. By this time, the Dallas forecheck is in place, and Stecher has no choice but to ice the puck.

Again, the Oilers had some options to eliminate this icing, but it required more early work by Adam Henrique to help Kane and Nurse. Cleaning this up in game four would help the Oilers spend less time in their zone.

Evan Bouchard might not be the Oilers’ best player in the playoffs, but he’s in the discussion. He was brilliant again on Sunday.

Watch this play and the confidence and quickness with which he executes it. He starts by recognizing the Dallas stretch play and drops back. He puts himself between the puck and the Dallas player, makes a great grab, and then take a look at how quickly he makes the play to Connor McDavid for the attack.

The Connor Brown injury will be one to watch. If Brown cannot go, do the Oilers put Arvidsson back in the line-up? Do they look at Jeff Skinner? Or are we close enough on Mattias Ekholm that the Oilers go 11-7?

That’s it for the Game 3 review. The Oilers will try to take another step on Tuesday, and we will review it all here on Wednesday morning. Have a great day.

Litco Law has been serving Edmontonians and all of Alberta for over 50 years. A family-owned and operated company, their purpose is to balance the power for people who find themselves having to navigate the complex legal system. They can help with personal injury claims (like car accidents), employment matters (such as wrongful dismissal or severance package reviews), or if you’ve been denied long-term disability benefits. Litco Law is known for being experienced, responsive, and genuinely caring. You might not believe Lawyers You’ll Love™ exist—but they do. To learn more or book a free consultation, visit LitcoLaw.com.