GAME 4 PREDICTION: Will the Stars align in Edmonton?
- Ivan Dawkins
- May 27
- 4 min read
The Dallas Stars intend to even their best of seven series against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place Arena - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on 5/27/2025 at 7PM CT in game 4 of the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Western Conference Final.
Lying here restless and wide awake in my Edmonton, Alberta, Canada hotel room at 2:17AM, MDT, with visions of the massacre that took place less than 48 hours ago at Rogers Place Arena, a stone’s throw from my sleeping quarters. The fabric of my calm, is beginning to fray.
WHAT'S THAT SMELL?
There are some pundits, who I respect immensely, that want us to take some solace in the fact that the Stars’ expected goals was approximately 2 goals better than the Oilers. They want us to feel comforted and coddled by the fact the Stars high danger chances have been strong in the last two games of this series. Who cares what their projected goal rate(PGR) was? I care what their actual goal rate(AGR) is. Does what we expect affect the result? I expect my wife to be in a FANTASTIC mood when I get home! (Sorry babe, I’m workin' here.) I expect my children to see just how much I truly love them, in the midst of my correction and direction. I expect to be judged by the content of my character as well as the quality of my content. The fact of the matter is, what is expected is often times irrelevant. Now I’m no narcissist. I could be totally wrong. This is an opinion piece and I encourage you to like, subscribe, and share your opinion in peace. Disagreement doesn’t have to be disagreeable or come with disdain, dismay, disregard or disrespect. But colleagues and fans, come on. Even my relatively untrained neophyte eyes can see there’s something amiss here. We’re missing something, and I’m sad to say…the rotten water that’s being used to ready the ice for play will be just as rancid in game 4. The Oilers will take a 3 - 1 series lead after a convincing victory in game 4.
SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY
Look, I’m just trying to make a living here. In the words of the most diva of athletes up for a multi-generation payday, “I GOTTA FEED MY FAMILY!” Yes, I’m familiar with the Pygmalion effect and the theory of a self-fulfilling prophecy. In fact, from a spiritual perspective, I believe you shall have what you speak. Not necessarily believe and achieve, but say and achieve. Nonetheless, there’s a disturbance in the force. My spidey senses are tingling. My vibe radar ain’t vibing!
SPEED DEMONS
I’ve referred to the decided speed advantage I believe the Oilers have in this series. Don’t come at me bro! I calls ‘em like I sees ‘em. This time, the statistics support my tenderfoot eyes. Entering this series, Edmonton and Dallas were the top two teams this postseason in terms of 20-plus mph speed bursts. Through three games played, Edmonton has a 94-60 advantage in that category. Thank you NHL Edge IQ powered by Amazon Web Service
TRADITIONALIST
Unlike the old-school, monocle-wearing philosophy of journalism where objectivity must be colder than a popsicle in a snowstorm, I’m not bothered one bit if a media member is a fan of the team they cover. Hell, I was yelling at Stars games from the cheap seats long before I started writing about them. Now, don’t get it twisted playa. I’m a fan, not a fool. Sure, I’ve made a few questionable calls in my time (including but not limited to wearing jorts to a July picnic in Texas), but when it comes to honesty about my teams, I don’t sugarcoat. Ask any of my fellow Cowboys fans. They’ll tell you I serve my takes straight up, no chaser. Popular? Rarely. Honest? Painfully. So yes, I’m emotionally invested. I’m not okay! Nope, I ain’t handing out participation trophies. For the record? The OK Corral is anything but okay. It’s mostly chaos, a negative sum shootout, and someone forgot the damn beer for my horses and whiskey for my men.
SUPERSTITION
There’s a glitch in the Matrix. A part of me is hoping that Murphy’s Law or Stevie Wonder’s superstition will jump up and bite me in the proverbial left ass cheek on this and as a result of my bold prediction, the Stars open a jar of kick-butt on the Oilers. Hey!! Cut it out! I know it’s supposed to be a can of whoop-ass, but my mom is reading this. Have some respect. I’m working’ here, and I gotta feed my family.
Ivan Dawkins is a journalist for bs3network.com - because someone has to make sense of this madness. Follow him on X at @ikingdawk before he tweets something he can't take back.
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