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Stars lay second blowout win on Oilers in scrappy affair: Recap, Reaction and Highlights
Edmonton Oilers Connor McDavid Dallas Stars
Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Mar 12, 2026, 23:00 EDTUpdated: Mar 12, 2026, 23:01 EDT
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After one of the Edmonton Oilers’ best games of the season, the Oilers put up a stinker in the following game.
On Thursday, the Oilers played the third of four games on the road, travelling to Dallas to play the Stars. While it wasn’t as bad as their 8-3 loss earlier this season, it wasn’t particularly close, as the Stars defeated the Oilers 7-2. Let’s take a look at what went on in this one.
Similar to Tuesday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche, the Oilers allowed the first goal of the game early in the first. This time, Miro Heiskanen’s shot from the point missed the net, but the ricochet bounded out front to Jamie Benn, who beat Tristan Jarry to make it 1-0.
The score remained at 1-0 for over 10 minutes before the Stars extended their lead to two. On a two-on-one, Matt Duchene was able to make a cross-ice pass to Sam Steel for the tap-in. Then just over two minutes later, the Stars made it 3-0, as Evan Bouchard turned the puck over for another two-on-one. Instead of passing this time, Jason Robertson decided to shoot and beat Jarry for the goal.
Moving to the second period, the Oilers took a penalty early, and the Stars capitalized about six minutes into the period. Wyatt Johnston got to the centre of the ice and was all alone, just tapping it in to make it 4-0. Then, Robertson scored his second goal of the game 32 seconds later to make it 5-0.
Eight minutes into the second period, the Oilers finally showed some life. Bouchard, who had an awful first period, was given all the time in the world to skate into the slot, ripping it past Jake Oettinger to make it 5-1.
The Oilers got to within three with another goal four minutes later. Jack Roslovic passed it back to Mattias Ekholm at the point, who wristed it toward the goal. In front of the net was Jason Dickinson, deflecting it past the Stars’ netminder to make it 5-2.
There was a scrum after the second-period horn, which led to a Stars power play. Unfortunately, the Stars scored on that power play, making it 6-2. With 63 seconds left in the game, Duchene scored a beauty to make it 7-2.

Takeaways…

Before we get into the physicality, the Oilers’ awful start sunk them before they even got a chance to get into the game. If the victory against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday was their biggest of the season, this loss against the Stars could be one of the worst, just because of how they were beaten and how it stopped their momentum.
Tristan Jarry had a strong game in relief on Tuesday, but he allowed the first goal on the first shot, then was beaten on a two-on-one. Overall, he stopped 20 of 27 shots for a .741 save percentage.
Bouchard had a rough game, going -3 in the first period with a pretty bad turnover. However, he scored his career-high 19th goal of the season, assisted by Kasperi Kapanen and Leon Draisaitl. Connor McDavid’s 19-game point streak on the road was snapped.
At the end of the second period, Arttu Hyry cleared the puck on the penalty kill, hitting Leon Draisaitl. Captain Connor McDavid didn’t like that and tried getting to Hyry, but only got as far as Justin Hryckowian. The Oilers captain ragdolled him. The penalty the two of them received ended any chance of a come back thanks to the ensuing goal early in the third, but it led to some chippiness in the third.
There were a handful of skirmishes in the final frame, but the first big one was after Josh Samanski tripped Hryckowian. Colin Blackwell didn’t like that and jumped Samanski, while Frederic ragdolled Hryckowian. That said, Hryckowian wasn’t some helpless victim, as he started chirping Vasily Podkolzin after everything settled down. Somehow, there was no power play to come out of this.
With two minutes left in the game, Jason Dickinson poked a loose puck a little bit too hard, kicking off another big scrum. Dickinson really got into it with Wyatt Johnston, as he hit the showers early. Along with a goal, it was a good game for the Oilers’ trade-deadline addition.
Last year in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Oilers were down big to the Florida Panthers. Instead of even attempting to come back, the Oilers left their mark by being physical. If the Oilers make the Stanley Cup Final again, there’s a chance they’ll have to play the Stars for the third consecutive Western Conference Finals.
Unfortunately, the Stars and Oilers don’t play another regular season game, so if they are to meet again, it would be in the postseason. But first, the Oilers have to get there, and their next chance to pick up two points is on Friday at 6 p.m. MT.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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