Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson (21) celebrates a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period of Game 3 of the NHL hockey Western Conference Final in Edmonton, Alberta, on Monday, May 27, 2024. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
(Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
EDMONTON, Alberta — Jason Robertson completed his first-career playoff hat trick midway through the third period as the Dallas Stars defeated the Edmonton Oilers 5-3 on Monday night to take a 2-1 lead in the NHL’s Western Conference final.
Wyatt Johnston and Miro Heiskanen, into the empty net, had the other goal for Dallas. Jake Oettinger made 26 saves. Roope Hintz, Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn had two assists each.
Connor McDavid, with a goal and an assist to give him 100 career playoff points, Zach Hyman and Adam Henrique scored for Edmonton, which got 17 stops from Stuart Skinner.
Dallas, which reestablished home-ice advantage with the victory and owned the league’s best regular-season road record, is now 6-1 in the playoffs away from American Airlines Center.
Game 4 of the best-of-seven series is Wednesday night.
Henrique returned to the lineup after sitting out seven of Edmonton’s last eight games with a suspected ankle injury. Hintz, the Stars’ No. 1 center, was also back following a four-game absence because of an upper-body injury.
After the Oilers dominated the opening 20 minutes and the Stars grabbed momentum back in the second period, Robertson snapped a 3-3 tie at 11:54 of the third on a jam play that squeezed through Skinner.
Edmonton pulled the goaltender late looking to force overtime, but Heiskanen iced it into an empty net with 1:55 left in regulation.
Dallas Stars celebrate after a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the second period of Game 3 of the NHL hockey Western Conference Final in Edmonton, Alberta, Monday, May 27, 2024. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
(Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger (29) makes a save against the Edmonton Oilers during the second period of Game 3 of the NHL hockey Western Conference Final in Edmonton, Alberta, Monday, May 27, 2024. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
(Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner (74) makes a save against the Dallas Stars during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL hockey Western Conference Final in Edmonton, Alberta, Monday, May 27, 2024. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
(Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Dallas Stars' Mason Marchment (27) chases Edmonton Oilers' Brett Kulak (27) during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL hockey Western Conference Final in Edmonton, Alberta, Monday, May 27, 2024. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
(Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Edmonton Oilers' Mattias Ekholm (14), Connor McDavid (97) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (93) celebrate with teammates on the bench after a goal against the Dallas Stars during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL hockey Western Conference Final in Edmonton, Alberta, Monday, May 27, 2024. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
(Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger (29) makes a save against Edmonton Oilers' Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (93) during the second period of Game 3 of the NHL hockey Western Conference Final in Edmonton, Alberta, Monday, May 27, 2024. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
(Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)