The Dallas Stars are in a tight spot heading back home for Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, down 3-1 in the series. Their opponents, the Edmonton Oilers, took Game 4 with a 4-1 score and looked poised to return to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second consecutive year.

The Stars had a 22-17 edge in shot attempts in the first period, but they fell behind 2-0. While forward Colin Blackwell was robbed by goalie Stuart Skinner and forward Mikael Granlund hit a goal post, Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard scored on a blast from the point and Oilers center Connor McDavid finished a 3-on-1.

Now, as the series heads to Edmonton, it does so with uncertainty and animosity. As unknown as Hintz’s status may be, DeBoer remained certain about one thing — that if Oilers center Connor McDavid were the player injured, the officials would have responded differently.

In the world of heavy knee and shin pads, a slash normally doesn’t do enough damage to derail an NHL player; but the slash delivered by Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse in the third period to the lower left leg of Stars center Roope Hintz appeared to do the job of a mob hit. “We didn’t like it,” Stars center Jamie Benn said.

The Dallas Stars dropped their third straight outing in their Western Conference Final series against the Edmonton Oilers.

Abbotsford Canucks play-by-play broadcaster Brandon Astle was attacked by a Colorado Eagles fan during playoff game.

Zach Hyman had two goals and an assist, Connor McDavid added two goals and the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Dallas Stars 6-1 on Sunday, taking a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference final series.

"A little bit of the same story, right?" coach Pete DeBoer said after the Stars faltered again in their Game 4 loss to the Oilers.