Backup goaltender Casey DeSmith didn't stand a chance against the Edmonton Oilers great Connor McDavid. Photo: Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Dallas Stars season ended with a loss in the Western Conference Final to the Edmonton Oilers. Again.
Why it matters: It sucks.
The Stars failed to advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the third straight year.
State of play: Dallas was trailing Edmonton 3-1 in the seven-game series before last night's game at the American Airlines Center.
The Oilers led the game early and stayed ahead throughout, winning 6-3.
The upset: Stars goalie Jake Oettinger was replaced by backup Casey DeSmith just over seven minutes into the game. Dallas was down 2-0, and the Oilers quickly scored on DeSmith.
The Stars — and the fans — seemed lifeless until winger Jason Robertson scored in the first period. A win suddenly seemed possible.
The crowd roared when center Roope Hintz scored in the second period, narrowing Edmonton's lead to one goal, but the cheers were quelled about two minutes later when Connor McDavid scored.
Another Robertson goal in the third period wasn't enough to close the gap.
The bottom line: The Stars are very good, and it seemed like this was the year they could win their second Stanley Cup.
As team captain Jamie Benn said after the game: "I felt like we had a solid group from top to bottom. That's why this stinks, pretty bad."
