Should we call that a Western Conference Final rematch or preview?
The <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/connor-mcdavid-zach-hyman-scores-jake-walman-shines-edmonton-oilers-debut">Edmonton Oilers</a> edged out the Dallas Stars by a <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/instant-reaction-jake-walman-shines-edmonton-oilers-debut-beat-dallas-stars">score of 5-4</a> on Saturday in a mid-March game that had the atmosphere of a playoff battle in late May or early June.

Last spring, we saw the Oilers take down the Stars in six games to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. Since then, both teams have made a handful of changes. Dallas acquired Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci before the 4 Nations Face-Off and then made a huge splash at the trade deadline by adding star winger <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/dallas-stars-acquire-mikko-rantanen-carolina-hurricanes-western-conference-teams-load-up">Mikko Rantanen</a>.
Just one day after being acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes, Rantanen flew across the continent to join his new team in Edmonton. The big Finn had a strong debut, scoring a goal and an assist while logging 21:56 in the loss.
Fans in Edmonton also got to witness the first game of Jake Walman&#8217;s career with the Oilers in Saturday&#8217;s win. After being acquired from the San Jose Sharks earlier this week, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/getting-to-know-jake-walman-the-newest-defenceman-on-the-oilers">the skilled defender</a> picked up an <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/jake-walman-zach-hyman-first-point-edmonton-oilers">assist</a> and was plus-three over 24:40 playing alongside Darnell Nurse.
The Oilers are in second place in the Pacific Division with a 37-22-4 record, four points back of the Vegas Golden Knights with one more game played. The Stars sit second in the Central Division at 41-20-2 and they&#8217;re eight points back of the Winnipeg Jets with one game in hand.
<h2>What they said&#8230;</h2>
Newly-acquired defenceman <a href="https://x.com/EdmontonOilers/status/1898621427957584218">Jake Walman</a> on making his debut with the Oilers&#8230;
<blockquote>&#8220;I’ve always wanted to play meaningful games at this time [of year]. At some point in my career I knew this would come.&#8221;
&#8220;I think there&#8217;ll be battles down the road with these guys at some point, and I think that was probably the perfect game for me to start off and get the feeling of what it&#8217;s like.&#8221;
&#8220;[The pace] was probably the biggest [difference] I noticed. Just the compete level and these guys are always on. It feels like a different level and I&#8217;m just really excited to play at that level. And like I said before, meaningful games. I think that was kind of almost like a pre-playoff game.&#8221;</blockquote>
Head coach <a href="https://x.com/EdmontonOilers/status/1898620110388199864">Kris Knobluach</a> on the additions of Jake Walman and Max Jones&#8230;
<blockquote>&#8220;I think we&#8217;ll see a lot of plays like [Walman] did tonight. That&#8217;s why our management thought very highly of him to trade for him, which I think is really going to pay off for us.&#8221;
&#8220;I think [Walman] will chip in [physically]. I don&#8217;t think he&#8217;s going to run out of his way. He&#8217;s a strong guy and solid on his skates, but I don&#8217;t think he&#8217;s gonna be running around. I certainly don&#8217;t want him to do that. But he can chip in with the physicality, and just with our team, I think everybody can.&#8221;
&#8220;Speaking of physicality, with Jones, two games and he&#8217;s really provided an element that we&#8217;ve been missing. Tonight he played about eight minutes, five hits, and very similar to the night before. So adding a little bit of speed and physicality, which is good for our team.&#8221;</blockquote>
Winger <a href="https://x.com/EdmontonOilers/status/1898614643465367645">Zach Hyman</a> on the Oilers gearing up for the playoffs&#8230;
<blockquote>&#8220;I think we&#8217;ve been building the last couple of games,&#8221; Hyman said. &#8220;Obviously haven&#8217;t been able to put it in, but I think today, we were finally able to capitalize on some looks and everything looks better when you&#8217;re scoring.&#8221;
&#8220;I think there&#8217;s a long way to go, but I wouldn&#8217;t count out our group out with the experience we have here. I think we&#8217;re pretty confident in this group and we have a little stretch here to get to playing our best so that we&#8217;re feeling good going into the playoffs.&#8221;</blockquote>
Trade deadline addition <a href="https://www.nhl.com/news/mikko-rantanen-makes-big-first-impression-in-dallas-stars-debut">Mikko Rantanen</a> on his first game with the Stars&#8230;
<blockquote>“I’m obviously trying to help the team in any way I can, and sometimes it’s on the [score] sheet and sometimes it’s just trying to defend well. It’s just trying to make plays. The power play felt pretty good right away. There’s really good players around, so it makes it easier and hopefully it gets better and better.”
“I can tell they really like to play with the puck and that’s a big reason why I wanted to come here, they have a lot of good players, they’re a deep team. Even when Roope [Hintz] goes down, he’s one of the best players for sure, we can still score and almost tie the game in the third without him. It tells you how deep the team is and I’m glad to be a part of it.”</blockquote>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="The Edmonton Oilers almost made a HUGE splash at the NHL trade deadline | Trade Rumors" width="1424" height="801" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8w6_8hR77Ro?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

Should we call that a Western Conference Final rematch or preview?

The <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/connor-mcdavid-zach-hyman-scores-jake-walman-shines-edmonton-oilers-debut">Edmonton Oilers</a> edged out the Dallas Stars by a <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/instant-reaction-jake-walman-shines-edmonton-oilers-debut-beat-dallas-stars">score of 5-4</a> on Saturday in a mid-March game that had the atmosphere of a playoff battle in late May or early June.



Last spring, we saw the Oilers take down the Stars in six games to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. Since then, both teams have made a handful of changes. Dallas acquired Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci before the 4 Nations Face-Off and then made a huge splash at the trade deadline by adding star winger <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/dallas-stars-acquire-mikko-rantanen-carolina-hurricanes-western-conference-teams-load-up">Mikko Rantanen</a>.

Just one day after being acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes, Rantanen flew across the continent to join his new team in Edmonton. The big Finn had a strong debut, scoring a goal and an assist while logging 21:56 in the loss.

Fans in Edmonton also got to witness the first game of Jake Walman's career with the Oilers in Saturday's win. After being acquired from the San Jose Sharks earlier this week, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/getting-to-know-jake-walman-the-newest-defenceman-on-the-oilers">the skilled defender</a> picked up an <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/jake-walman-zach-hyman-first-point-edmonton-oilers">assist</a> and was plus-three over 24:40 playing alongside Darnell Nurse.

The Oilers are in second place in the Pacific Division with a 37-22-4 record, four points back of the Vegas Golden Knights with one more game played. The Stars sit second in the Central Division at 41-20-2 and they're eight points back of the Winnipeg Jets with one game in hand.
<h2>What they said...</h2>
Newly-acquired defenceman <a href="https://x.com/EdmontonOilers/status/1898621427957584218">Jake Walman</a> on making his debut with the Oilers...
<blockquote>"I’ve always wanted to play meaningful games at this time [of year]. At some point in my career I knew this would come."

"I think there'll be battles down the road with these guys at some point, and I think that was probably the perfect game for me to start off and get the feeling of what it's like."

"[The pace] was probably the biggest [difference] I noticed. Just the compete level and these guys are always on. It feels like a different level and I'm just really excited to play at that level. And like I said before, meaningful games. I think that was kind of almost like a pre-playoff game."</blockquote>
Head coach <a href="https://x.com/EdmontonOilers/status/1898620110388199864">Kris Knobluach</a> on the additions of Jake Walman and Max Jones...
<blockquote>"I think we'll see a lot of plays like [Walman] did tonight. That's why our management thought very highly of him to trade for him, which I think is really going to pay off for us."

"I think [Walman] will chip in [physically]. I don't think he's going to run out of his way. He's a strong guy and solid on his skates, but I don't think he's gonna be running around. I certainly don't want him to do that. But he can chip in with the physicality, and just with our team, I think everybody can."

"Speaking of physicality, with Jones, two games and he's really provided an element that we've been missing. Tonight he played about eight minutes, five hits, and very similar to the night before. So adding a little bit of speed and physicality, which is good for our team."</blockquote>
Winger <a href="https://x.com/EdmontonOilers/status/1898614643465367645">Zach Hyman</a> on the Oilers gearing up for the playoffs...
<blockquote>"I think we've been building the last couple of games," Hyman said. "Obviously haven't been able to put it in, but I think today, we were finally able to capitalize on some looks and everything looks better when you're scoring."

"I think there's a long way to go, but I wouldn't count out our group out with the experience we have here. I think we're pretty confident in this group and we have a little stretch here to get to playing our best so that we're feeling good going into the playoffs."</blockquote>
Trade deadline addition <a href="https://www.nhl.com/news/mikko-rantanen-makes-big-first-impression-in-dallas-stars-debut">Mikko Rantanen</a> on his first game with the Stars...
<blockquote>“I’m obviously trying to help the team in any way I can, and sometimes it’s on the [score] sheet and sometimes it’s just trying to defend well. It’s just trying to make plays. The power play felt pretty good right away. There’s really good players around, so it makes it easier and hopefully it gets better and better.”

“I can tell they really like to play with the puck and that’s a big reason why I wanted to come here, they have a lot of good players, they’re a deep team. Even when Roope [Hintz] goes down, he’s one of the best players for sure, we can still score and almost tie the game in the third without him. It tells you how deep the team is and I’m glad to be a part of it.”</blockquote>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w6_8hR77Ro

The Day After 63.0: Oilers beat Mikko Rantanen and the Stars in potential Western Conference Final preview

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