Game 3: Edmonton Oilers vs. Dallas Stars: A Tactical Analysis

Dallas Stars Seeing the other team’s coaching staff in action during a seven-game series against a strong team is one of the enjoyable, if peripheral, aspects of the game. Which kinds of tactics do they use? How are players deployed there? Perhaps most importantly, how do they modify player deployment and strategy based on what they observe happening in the game?
A very good coaching staff made small adjustments to the way their players were supposed to play in Game 3 of the Dallas-Edmonton series, and it completely changed the outcome of the game. The series might have been turned as well. Fans of the Edmonton Oilers are upset because the Dallas Stars coaching staff made those adjustments, and as a result, the Oilers are now down 2-1 in the series following a 5-3 loss in game three. Let us examine what has changed and why.
The Dallas Stretch Play
I had the good fortune to watch the game live last night. You can see things the camera doesn’t always show when you attend in person. That was the case last night. With a 2-0 lead after the first, the Oilers were pure genius for the first twenty minutes and excellent value. The Stars made a tactical shift that significantly altered the dynamics of the match. It was not a novel strategy. We discussed it following Game 1. The weakside stretch play was this one.
Put simply, the Dallas Stars were taking advantage of every chance to send their weak-side forward up ice. The plan was to either create some open ice in the neutral zone to allow the Stars to get out quickly or to catch the Oilers defence off guard and get a quick strike breakaway. Because the Oilers’ defence played their weakside defence more softly in Game 1, and because the high forward knew the play and returned forcefully to the middle of the ice during transitions to silence the attack, it was less effective. The Oilers’ much poorer counter-attack performance last night is the main tactical reason for the game’s defeat. Watch this video to see an example of the effect this had on the Oilers.
In this instance, the attack involves Darnell Nurse turning on the ice. But watch him take a sharp turn back when he thinks Dallas will get the puck back. The first freeze frame makes this clear. A player from Dallas has been sent to the Oilers’ blueline. Given that Connor McDavid was in a favourable situation in this instance, Nurse most likely didn’t need to respond in this way. He had the option to stay in the play and apply pressure to try and reclaim the puck. Still, he didn’t. All because in the second period, Dallas was stretching this player during each shift. To make matters worse, Nurse assumes an extremely bad gap position with McDavid applying back pressure. In essence, he permits the Stars attacker to walk right down to net front for a good chance against.
Nurse’s gap control was annoying to me last night, and this play was no different. But it all began when the Oilers reacted to Dallas dictating the play by stretching their forward.
Look at the winner of the game as well. At this point, the Oilers enter the game, and Leon Draisaitl covers well over the top in F3. The puck returns to the zone after Cody Ceci prevails in the wall battle. But a short while later, it climbs the same wall again, and this time Draisaitl makes a mistake. In this instance, Draisaitl does not remain in the secure position above when Ceci goes to pinch. Rather than going the other way, he charges the puck carrier, and that play opens up a jailbreak for the Stars.
Once more, it begins with the Stars extending their weak side forward and lowering the puck. The Stars are attacking now. In this case, the Oilers come back—sort of—but they’re not in a one-and-done situation. Examine the frozen frame. Draisaitl is in the slot or net front, but he is over the puck rather than below it. Regarding Darnell Nurse, I simply have no idea what he is doing. In this situation, he had to be on the defensive. There was not a single Stars player to indicate his position. When the puck drops to Dallas #21, Nurse and Draisaitl react slowly, and that ends the game.
The Defensive Zone
Now, not every Dallas stars attire so that Dallas play was outstanding. A few of the Oilers’ defensive zone monsters came out. That was evident in the goal that won the match, and it continued throughout the contest, leading to goals against. This is the second goal against Dallas. It begins with a stretch play up the weak side once more. The Oilers have the advantage in manpower over Dallas in this instance. But first, take a look at Connor McDavid. Rather than allowing Ekholm to go up ice and remain stationary, he closes in on the puck carrier and lets two Stars pass him. Returning is only Evan Bouchard. An emergency call is made when the puck drops low, and everyone returns to the net. All but Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who merely observes Jason Robertson score from in tight.
Additionally, there was the first goal against. It’s up to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to grab the puck here. All he has to do is. Dylan Holloway was the lone bright spot in the Oilers’ top nine as the forward group struggled mightily to get the puck out all night. Jason Robertson forces McDavid to pay after he arrives late for his bill once the play has entered the zone.
The Defence
Last night, the Oilers’ defence was a complete disaster save for the first two and Brett Kulak. Once more, we have already discussed many of their difficulties, but even on straightforward plays, they were unable to perform well enough to relieve the pressure. All night, Vinny Desharnais, Cody Ceci, and Darnell Nurse were extremely impoverished. This is just one of the clips that highlights the evening. Despite having plenty of time and a few options, Desharnais is unable to advance the puck up the ice. He gives it to the Dallas Star player instead. The Stars launched a massive space assault in the zone as soon as he did that. The Oilers forwards most definitely needed to provide better support for the play. But this was a very simple NHL hockey play and Vinny Desharnais failed to make it. It cost his team a goal.
The Positives
It is true that the Oilers must regroup heading into Game 4. They do, however, have a foundation upon which to grow. In actuality, the Stars are using four defensemen. The four handled themselves well last night, although they were vulnerable to player pressure. The Oilers put on a strong forecheck in the opening frame but let up in the next two, with the exception of a few spots. Because they are playing a lot of minutes, they may be vulnerable. Watch the third goal for the Oilers and take note of Warren Foegele’s forecheck as well as the very subtle play the Dallas defenseman makes in an attempt to avoid contact. An excellent forecheck resulted in an Oilers goal.
Notes For Game 4
stars golden knights We saw last night why Ryan McLeod is advantageous. Do not misunderstand me. He hasn’t played well in the offensive zone during the series, and in game two, he definitely played erratically. Although dropping him from the starting lineup was a risky move, I have no problem with the reasoning. His defensive zone work, though, is the one aspect of his game that is difficult to replace. He is a player the Oilers can rely on to get out of the zone and plays excellent defensive zone defence. I felt that this area suffered from his absence. There need to be more forwards on the ice who can assist after watching the defence group struggle to get the puck out of the zone.
It’s time for the defence to change. The series needs to include Philip Broberg. He counters with his length and is an excellent skater defender. In addition, he is skilled at joining the rush and has the ability to pass and skate the puck out of trouble. I was wrong when I said that playing him earlier would be unfair. He must be included in the series.
Bravo for the fourth sentence. Yes, they were scored against, but we’ve already discussed Vinny Desharnais’s problems here. All night long, the queue worked well on the forecheck. Additionally, the coach did not hesitate to start them in their own zone when facing off against the Jamie Benn line of Dallas. They spent most of the night sawing off, and it is a group that can be counted on.
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