The glass-half-full assessment of Edmonton splitting the first two games in Dallas is straightforward: So long as Kris Knoblauch’s team can protect home ice, they will be representing the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Final.

The glass-half-empty assessment? It feels like the Oilers could have, perhaps even should have, won both games. Their opponent here is no slouch – the Stars regular season was extremely impressive, and since then they’ve knocked off both Vegas and Colorado, two of the best teams in the league. Dropping games at home to this Dallas lineup is entirely possible.

So, what do we make of the split down in Dallas? I have three key takeaways, focusing on Stuart Skinner, the Oilers’ power play, and an unrelenting weak point on the blueline.

It wasn’t two weeks ago we were staring down the barrel of a looming goaltending crisis in Edmonton, with Skinner struggling and the team turning to backup Calvin Pickard.

Though this Oilers team has felt like a championship contender for a few seasons now, goaltending worries have rarely abated. Skinner having a couple of rough games this postseason dialled up the fear factor – he wasn’t great against Los Angeles, and a couple of stinkers against Vancouver sounded some early alarm bells.

It’s been a different story so far against Dallas. Skinner has been much more good than bad, and again, the Oilers – with their typically ferocious offence – do not need elite goaltending to win games. They just need........

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