Clash of Titans in the NHL? Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers in the Spotlight
The NHL season is approaching its decisive phase, and the excitement is intensifying. One of the most promising rivalries in the Western Conference, between the Dallas Stars and the Edmonton Oilers, could be revived once more in the conference finals. In the previous two seasons, these teams have faced each other at this stage, with the Oilers emerging victorious on both occasions. Will history repeat itself, or will the Stars achieve revenge? The anticipation grows, especially with Thursday night’s matchup, where the Stars will host the Oilers. The game will be broadcast at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+/Hulu, as part of a day with 14 exciting matches. In the 2025-26 season, the Stars dominated the regular season against the Oilers, with a 4-3 shootout win in Dallas on November 4, and a resounding 8-3 victory in Edmonton on November 25. Now, with renewed templates, an even greater challenge is expected for both teams in the run-up to the playoffs. The Dallas Stars are positioned as the second-best team in the Central Division, and would currently face the Minnesota Wild in the first round of the playoffs. If the Stars advance, they could face the winner of the matchup between the Colorado Avalanche and the second wild card. For their part, the Edmonton Oilers and the Vegas Golden Knights are in the same bracket of the Pacific Division. Should the Oilers win their series, they would face the winner of the series between the Anaheim Ducks and the other wild card team. If both teams manage to overcome these stages, the Western Conference final could once again be a duel between the Stars and the Oilers. According to Stathletes’ projections, the Avalanche have the highest chance of reaching the Western Conference final, with 43.0%, followed by the Oilers with 37.6%, the Wild with 31.3%, the Golden Knights with 23.0%, the Utah Mammoth with 22.9%, and the Stars with 15.9%. With fewer than 20 games remaining for each team before the season ends on April 16, the fight for the playoffs and the positions for the 2026 draft intensifies.Current Playoff Games
Eastern Conference
- A1 Buffalo Sabres vs. WC1 Detroit Red Wings
- A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Montreal Canadiens
- M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 Boston Bruins
- M2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. M3 New York Islanders
Western Conference
- C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Seattle Kraken
- C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Minnesota Wild
- P1 Anaheim Ducks vs. WC1 Utah Mammoth
- P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Vegas Golden Knights
Thursday Games
Note: All times are ET. Games not on TNT or NHL Network will be available on ESPN+ (subject to local restrictions).- San Jose Sharks at Boston Bruins, 7 p.m.
- Washington Capitals at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m.
- Anaheim Ducks at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m.
- Detroit Red Wings at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.
- Columbus Blue Jackets at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m.
- Calgary Flames at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m.
- St. Louis Blues at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m.
- Edmonton Oilers at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu)
- Philadelphia Flyers at Minnesota Wild, 8 p.m.
- New York Rangers at Winnipeg Jets, 8 p.m.
- Chicago Blackhawks at Utah Mammoth, 9 p.m.
- Nashville Predators at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m.
- Pittsburgh Penguins at Vegas Golden Knights, 10 p.m.
- Colorado Avalanche at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m.
