If there’s any sport you’d want to be down 3-1 in a playoff series in, hockey would probably be the first choice, but that doesn’t make the challenge ahead for the Dallas Stars any easier. After dropping three straight games in their Western Conference finals series against the Edmonton Oilers,

The Edmonton Oilers have the opportunity to close out the Western Conference final and head to a Stanley Cup Final rematch.

The Dallas Stars are back home and on the verge of their season ending in the Western Conference final for the third year in a row — especially if they don’t start scoring goals again like they did all season.

The Panthers stormed back from a 2-0 deficit in the first period and overwhelmed the Carolina Hurricanes yet again, winning 5-3 and winning the Eastern Conference Finals in five games. The Panthers are now awaiting the winner of the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars. Edmonton holds a 3-1 advantage in the Western Conference Finals.

Jamie Benn must also make a choice in NHL free agency, with three logical places for him to choose from this offseason.

The Dallas Stars are on the verge of a third consecutive elimination in the Western Conference final, and second in a row at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers.

The Oilers have the Stars on the brink in the Western Conference Final and Mikko Rantanen spoke about his struggles amid the tough series.