Bizarre as it might sound, Game 4 made certain that three is the magic number. The Edmonton Oilers have won three games in a row after Tuesday’s 4-1 victory and it gives them a 3-1 series advantage in the Western Conference finals.

Suffering what is now their third straight defeat means the Dallas Stars are a loss away from their season ending. They would be the first team to advance to three consecutive conference finals without reaching the Stanley Cup Final since the NHL moved to the current playoff format in 1994.

Ryan S. Clark and Greg Wyshynski take a look back at what happened in Game 4, what players could make an impact in what might be a defining Game 5 for both franchises while also asking what major questions face the Oilers and Stars ahead of Thursday.

Warning: The following commentary is going to sound like a broken record when it comes to the Edmonton Oilers. Reader discretion is advised.

Now that we’ve gone through the fine print, the Oilers did in Game 4 what they have done since coach Kris Knoblauch arrived in November 2023. They found a way to adjust. Again. Giving up 16 first-period shots led to the Oilers making the necessary adjustments that saw that number decline to nine shots in the second. In the third, Stars went more than 11 minutes until they registered a second shot on goal. The Oilers gave up two high-danger chances in 5-on-5 play over the final two periods while still retaining their physical edge without Zach Hyman, who was ruled out after a first-period hit from Mason Marchment.

In addition to those adjustments, the Oilers also received plenty of other contributions. Leon Draisaitl scored the opener with Corey Perry scoring the eventual game-winner and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins doling out two assists. Then came empty-net goals from Kasperi Kapanen and Adam Henrique. Similar to what they did in Game 3, the Oilers found the balance that saw them rely on Stuart Skinner to make the needed save while providing him with stronger support. — Ryan S. Clark

First the good news: The Dallas Stars had a great first period with that saw them put 16 shots on goal, produce 74% of the shot attempts and have 12 more scoring chances than the Oilers. Now the bad news: It didn’t lead to the Stars scoring the first goal of the game, something they’ve yet to do this series, as Draisaitl’s power-play goal put them in a 1-0 hole after 20 minutes. Key phrase: power play. The Oilers were 2-for-3 against a penalty-kill unit that has given up at least one goal in every game of the series.

That’s all they needed against a Dallas offense that Edmonton defended expertly in front of Skinner. How expertly? The Stars went roughly 30 minutes spanning the second and third periods without a high-danger shot attempt. Dallas had four shots on goal in the third period. The suppression of the Dallas offense — partially by the Oilers and Skinner, partially because the Stars have so many passengers this series — over the last two periods is the reason the Stars are facing elimination after Game 4. — Greg Wyshynski

Three Stars of Game 4

With a goal and an assist, Perry became the first forward with 15 minutes of time on ice and two points at age 40 or older in the playoffs since Jaromir Jagr in 2013 for the Bruins against the Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Final.

Another win while giving up one goal or fewer during this postseason. Skinner made 28 of 29 saves with the lone goal being a perfect Jason Robertson top-shelf snipe on the power play.

Mark Messier on “The Point” called Nugent-Hopkins perhaps the best special teams player (penalty kill and power play) in the NHL and it showed in Game 4 especially with the man advantage as he had two primary assists propelling the Oilers to a commanding 3-1 series lead. — Arda Öcal

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Leon Draisaitl opens up scoring for Oilers

Leon Draisaitl smacks a one-timer into the net on the power play as the Oilers grab a 1-0 lead.

Players to watch in Game 5

There’s still the possibility that the Oilers could have Hyman for Game 5. If not, then, it’s going to lead to Knoblauch making an adjustment to replace what has been the Oilers’ most physical player this postseason. Filling Hyman’s void could be a collective effort as it was in Game 4 given that Trent Frederic, Evander Kane, Vasily Podkolzin and Kapanen each finished with more than five hits. Perry, who also has a physical component to his game, has provided the Oilers with a winger who can play throughout the lineup. That was even more evident in Game 4 with his two-point performance that saw his sixth goal of the playoffs tie Jean Beliveau for the most by a player in their age-39 season. Whether it be on the fourth line or next to Connor McDavid and Draisaitl to give the Oilers a forward combination that features Hart Trophy winners, Perry is a luxury no other team has this postseason. — Clark

Dallas GM Jim Nill said it himself after acquiring Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes: “Mikko’s experience in the postseason is an invaluable asset to our team as we work toward the goal of winning a Stanley Cup.”

Welp. The Stars are one more loss away from being shaken awake from their Stanley Cup dream in the conference final for a third straight season. When thinking about reasons “it’ll be different this time,” Rantanen’s name was top of the list. Especially after his 18-point explosion over the course of seven games between the end of the Colorado series and the start of the Winnipeg series.

Rantanen doesn’t have a goal since Game 3 against the Jets. He has two secondary assists in his past six playoff games. The “invaluable asset” hasn’t exactly become a liability. He’s generating shots. He’s trying. But he has not been a difference-maker in the same way the top Edmonton players have. Game 5 could be a legacy game for Rantanen or more of the same for the Dallas. — Wyshynski

Big questions for Game 5

Will it be too close for comfort or closing time for the Oilers in Game 5?

Fully understanding what this iteration of the Oilers has done this postseason can be viewed in a number of ways. But doing that means looking back at how they finished last season in the Stanley Cup Final. They know firsthand what it means to let an opponent find even a little bit of breathing room only to see them gain life. But they also know what it’s like to have that new proverbial life and fail to make the most of that advantage. Fast forward to this postseason. The second they got an opening against the Los Angeles Kings in the first round, they took care of business. The moment the Vegas Golden Knights thought they had something, the Oilers kept them from scoring for the rest of the postseason. So what are they about to do to the Stars in Game 5? And will it be enough to send the Oilers back to the Stanley Cup Final for a second straight season? — Clark

Is it as simple as scoring the first goal?

We like to get really brainy when it comes to hockey analysis. Puck possession, expected goals, high-danger chances and the rest of the fancy stats. We break down plays to the pixel to explain them. What we don’t like to do is acknowledge the simplicity of playoff hockey. Because a concept like “first goal wins” is just so uncomplicated. Even if it might be true.

The Carolina Hurricanes scored the first goal in Game 4, facing elimination. They exhaled, got to their game and now the series has swung back to Raleigh, with Carolina moving to 6-0 when they score first. Dallas is 3-0 in the postseason when scoring first — and perhaps the fact that it has happened only three times is one reason why they’ve played more games (17) than any other team in the postseason.

Scoring first doesn’t promise you anything. After all, Dallas had only a .674 winning percentage when scoring first in the regular season, 17th in the NHL. But getting a opening goal against the Oilers would calm things down. It would allow the Stars to build on their game rather than frantically dig out of a hole. Most importantly, it could help plant a little doubt in the minds of the Oilers. Because right now, the Oilers are the most unbothered team in the conference finals — cool, confident and one win away from another Stanley Cup Final appearances unless the Stars flip the script fast. Scoring first, as simple as it sounds, would be one way to attempt to do that. — Wyshynski

PHILADELPHIA — Bryce Harper took a knee and grasped his right arm — the Phillies’ star slugger’s elbow was bruised, more than 40,000 Phillies fans’ stomachs were in knots — and the worst was feared as he took off for the tunnel.

“Whenever your top hitters, or your best hitter, gets hit like that,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said, “there’s always some concern.”

Concern, yes. Just likely not a long-term one for the best team in the major leagues.

Harper left Tuesday night’s 2-0 win over Atlanta in the first inning after he was hit near the right elbow by a 95.3 mph fastball from Braves starter Spencer Strider.

Harper sustained a bruise, and an X-ray was negative, the Phillies said.

A two-time National League MVP, Harper took a few steps from home plate, dropped to a knee and gripped his arm in pain. Phillies athletic trainers came out to check on Harper, and the first baseman — who wasn’t wearing an elbow guard — headed to the clubhouse.

“I’m not a complete sociopath, so I have some empathy,” Strider said. “I do feel bad for him, to see a person in pain that I caused.”

Thomson said Harper was in a lot of pain after he was hit and will be evaluated again Wednesday morning.

“He’s a tough guy, too,” Thomson said.

Strider was voraciously booed by Phillies fans when he left the mound as the inning ended and the jeers grew even louder when he trudged off the mound after 4 2/3 innings.

“Certainly not trying to hit him,” Strider said. “I thought in the moment, I just assumed he had a guard on and was just pissed that I hit him. Saw him in pain. That was tough. I’m definitely relieved he’s OK. He’s one of the best players this century. He needs to be on the field. It’s best for the game. It’s good for us, good to compete against him.”

Harper is hitting .267 with eight home runs and 33 RBIs. He batted .323 (10-for-31) with three doubles, one homer and seven RBIs in seven games on the Phillies’ recent trip.

Edmundo Sosa pinch ran for Harper and stayed in the game at third base. Alec Bohm moved to first base.

“I was anxious, but happy there’s no break, for sure,” Thomson said.

Harper was 3-for-16 (.188) lifetime in the regular season against Strider. Strider made just his third start for Atlanta since returning from a strained hamstring strain.

Harper, 32, had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow following the 2022 World Series and returned to the lineup just 160 days after the procedure. Harper, in the seventh season of a $330 million, 13-year contract, recently had his 1,000th career RBI and again played a key role in the Phillies’ surge to the top of the MLB standings.

Harper missed 53 games in 2022 after he broke his thumb when he was also hit by a pitch.

With Harper on a hot streak, the Phillies remain atop the NL East with a 35-19 record and they had won nine straight games before dropping the finale of their road trip against the Athletics. They were set to play two more against Atlanta before a weekend home set against Milwaukee.

“These guys have been playing well for a while now,” Thomson said. “We’ve been doing it in different ways. We really pitched tonight.”

CLEVELAND — Mishits by most players end up being outs.

For Shohei Ohtani, they can result in home runs.

The Japanese star became the third player in Dodgers history to reach 20 homers in the team’s first 55 games with a two-run towering drive during the fourth inning Tuesday night against the Cleveland Guardians.

The Japanese star joined Gil Hodges (21 in 1951) and Cody Bellinger (20 in 2019) as Dodgers with at least 20 homers in the first 55 games. It is the 64th time a player in the majors did it in the same span, the first since the New York Mets‘ Pete Alonso in 2023.

“It’s really cool. A little bit jealousy probably. You know, he basically mishits a fly ball today and it still goes out,” said Max Muncy, who added a three-run homer in the Dodgers’ 9-5 victory. “It’s just one of those things where he does that stuff that no normal human beings can do. It’s really fun to watch and see it.”

Ohtani — a three-time MVP who leads the major leagues in homers — drove a cutter from Tanner Bibee into the left-field stands for a 4-0 lead. It was the fourth time this season Ohtani has gone deep to the opposite side.

“It wasn’t flushed, but it was spun the right way. It was just one of those balls that when he hit it, it just kept going like a helium ball,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It is true that he has a lot more margin for error than everyone else on the planet. Maybe him and (New York Yankees slugger Aaron) Judge.”

Bibee struck out Ohtani in the first inning and issued an intentional walk in the second. The right-hander thought he got out of the fourth inning when he saw Ohtani hit it, only to see it keep carrying.

“I think a lot of people thought it was a popup. I mean, I did too. It was definitely crazy seeing that go up,” Bibee said.

It was the second time this season and 10th since Ohtani came to the majors from Japan for the 2018 season he has homered in three straight games. That also includes a stretch of eight in the past 13 games.

Prior to Tuesday night, the fastest Ohtani had gone deep 20 times in a season was 70 games into the Angels’ season in 2021.

It is the third time the four-time All-Star has had at least 12 homers in a month since joining the Dodgers. He did it in June and August last season.

The most homers Ohtani has hit in a month was 15 with the Los Angeles Angels in June 2023.

Of Ohtani’s 245 big league homers, 37 have gone to left field.

“He’s just been much more disciplined in the strike zone,” Roberts said. “He’s swinging at his strikes and he’s taking balls that are not in the hitting zone. And I think that if you look at that stretch, he’s walking a lot more too. When he’s willing to take the walk and be ready to hit the balls in his hitting zone, that’s where you see kind of the slug and when he gets on a tear.”