The Edmonton Oilers, locked in a tight Western Conference final battle with the Dallas Stars, have expressed frustration over the disparity in power-play opportunities, with head coach Kris Knoblauch suggesting that the standard of officiating has changed in the playoffs. Despite being the NHL’s fourth-best power play in the regular season, the Oilers have had limited success in the postseason, with only three power plays in two conference final games. This contrasts with their earlier series against the Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings, where they capitalized on numerous man-advantage chances. The Oilers’ struggles to draw penalties have coincided with the Stars’ disciplined play, as Dallas has averaged the fewest short-handed minutes per game in the playoffs. Oilers players like Connor Brown acknowledge the need to improve their puck retention and create more momentum to force the Stars into penalties. Despite the concerns about officiating, Knoblauch remains confident in his team’s ability to generate scoring chances and make adjustments to find success in the series.
