Stanley Cup, Memorial Cup Notebook

The Edmonton Oilers are one win away from a return trip to the Stanley Cup final.

Leon Draisaitl and Corey Perry each had a power-play goal and an assist as the Edmonton Oilers took a commanding 3-1 lead in the Western Conference final series with a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.

Kasperi Kapanen and Adam Henrique both added empty-net goals, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Connor McDavid each had two assists for the Oilers who have battled back and won three consecutive games after a third-period collapse cost them the opening game in Dallas. Since then, they have outscored Dallas 13-2.

But Draisaitl said it was far from easy in Game 4.

“There are going to be some swings in a series. They’re one of the last four teams standing, so they’re going to have their push, and there’s going to be periods where they control the play. That’s just the way it is,” Draisaitl said.

“But I think we’ve managed it really well. (Goalie Stuart Skinner) has been incredible when we needed him to be, and our third period was really well played.”

The Oilers are now 9-0 in Game 4s over their past three playoff runs.

Skinner continued to shine in the Edmonton net, making 28 saves to register the win.

“How we all played as a team was fantastic and shows a lot of courage, the way that guys are blocking shots,” Skinner said. “For myself, it definitely felt good out there. I’m just trying to give my team the best chance that I possibly can every night.”

Jason Robertson replied for the Stars who are in danger of being eliminated in the West final by the Oilers for the second year in a row.

“It’s time to reset again, it’s not over until somebody wins four games,” said Stars forward Mikko Rantanen, who has been held scoreless for seven straight games after scoring nine goals in the six previous games. “So, now we go on home ice and it’s just one game at a time. I mean, I don’t even think really what the series is, it’s just try to win one game and come back to Alberta.”

Willie Desjardins didn’t think his group played the better game — but he had the winning goalie.

Harrison Meneghin stopped 35 shots as the Medicine Hat Tigers advanced to the Memorial Cup final with a 3-1 win over the London Knights on Tuesday night.

“London probably outplayed us tonight,” said Desjardins, the Tigers’ head coach and GM. “The difference tonight was Meneghin. He was outstanding in net, maybe even a little bit more than outstanding.”

London will meet the Moncton Wildcats or Rimouski Océanic in Friday’s semifinal. Medicine Hat awaits the winner of that semifinal showdown for Sunday’s final, seeking a third Memorial Cup in its fourth championship appearance.

Mathew Ward scored the winner at 1:17 of the third period while Ethan Neutens also scored for Medicine Hat (3-0), which won the Western Hockey League. Ryder Ritchie added an empty-net goal.

Meneghin, meanwhile, kept London from pulling away during a dominant opening 20 minutes from the Knights.

The 20-year-old Meneghin was named the WHL playoff MVP earlier this month after his father, Derek, died unexpectedly on the final day of the WHL regular season. His teammates have rallied around their netminder ever since.

“We wouldn’t be going to the finals without No. 35,” Ward said. “He’s been a rock for us all year.”

The Tigers won 3-1 over Moncton and claimed a 5-4 victory against Rimouski earlier in the round robin at Colisée Financière Sun Life.

Kasper Halttunen replied and Austin Elliott made 26 saves for the Ontario Hockey League champion Knights (2-1), who opened the tournament with a 3-2 overtime win over Moncton and then beat Rimouski 3-1.

(Canadian Press)