Empty Netters Podcast – Episode Summary
Episode Title: The Stars and The Oilers Are Shockingly Bounced In The First Round
Date: May 1, 2026
Host: Almost Friday Media – Empty Netters (Chris, Dan, Zach, Nate, Liz)
Special Guest: Eva Erickson
Episode Theme Overview
This episode dives deep into the unexpected early eliminations of two Western Conference heavyweights: the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers, both bounced shockingly in the first round of the 2026 NHL Playoffs. The hosts, joined by guest Eva Erickson, deliver immediate reactions, thorough analysis, in-depth team breakdowns, and spirited, irreverent banter on what these results mean for the NHL playoff picture. The discussion centers on what went wrong for the Stars and Oilers, how the Ducks and Wild stepped up, and what comes next for the league's superstars and their franchises.
Contents
Opening Reactions & Podcast Roundtable
Key Points:
- Shock and awe at both Dallas and Edmonton being eliminated in the first round.
- Hosts express a sense of being “robbed” of potential Game Sevens, with expectations for more series to go the distance.
- Audio/video shenanigans as they settle into the live show, touting the team behind their elite social content.
- Dan is reporting in from a golf course in South Carolina, adding to the irreverent tone.
"I cannot believe I'm sitting here today talking about two eliminations because I feel robbed, I feel absolutely robbed of two game sevens." — Chris (00:18)
Minnesota Wild’s Breakthrough: Special Guest Eva Erickson
[04:41–41:53]
Comprehensive segment with Wild superfan and former Survivor contestant Eva Erickson, analyzing Minnesota’s historic win and playoff prospects.
Key Discussion Points:
- Historic Breakthrough:
Minnesota breaks its first-round exit curse, advancing for the first time after 8 straight first-round playoff losses.
- Quinn Hughes’ Heroics:
- Praised for his “game above everyone else” performance: two goals and an assist, including the game-winner.
- "Quinn can see fucking three streets over... Don't do anything embarrassing in your bedroom while the Wild game is on, because Quinn can see it five blocks away." — Chris (13:03)
- Special Teams Disparity:
- Minnesota struggled on special teams: PK issues (10 PP goals against in 6 games), but Colorado as next opponent also has a weak power play, possibly leveling the playing field.
- Matt Boldy’s Emergence:
- Eva calls Boldy “more of an impact player on our team right now than Kirill [Kaprizov] is.”
- Discussion of Boldy’s breakout, favorable contract, and dynamic with Kaprizov.
- Defensive Pairing Impact:
- Eva asserts: “Faber and Hughes are probably, in my opinion, the best D pairing in the league right now.” (21:34)
- Contrast with Colorado’s Makar-Töews pairing; anticipation for an elite D battle in the next round.
- Goaltending Decisions:
- Praise for Wallstedt’s maturity and clutch play as a rookie, with Philip Gustavsson as luxury backup.
- “I think when you give the goalie the confidence there, it's like, we trust you in net, then they will run away with that. Sometimes that back-and-forth can be hard on the mental.” — Eva (31:50)
- Depth Scoring Contributions:
- Shoutout to additions like Tarasenko (“if you can get four or five goals in a playoff run from Tarasenko, that’s how you win the cup” – Chris).
- Outlook vs. Avalanche:
- Wild playing with “house money”; all pressure on President’s Trophy Avs, who would face disaster if eliminated early again.
- Eva confidently predicts Wild in 7 after a hard-fought, entertaining series.
- “This is the Stanley Cup round that we're about to have... If we can get through the Avs, then I think it's smooth sailing.” — Eva (23:21)
- Personal & Fan Experiences:
- Eva shares stories about road trips, rituals, and interacting with fans.
- Entertaining Survivor sidetrack relating to Wild’s luck and team culture.
Notable & Fun Quotes:
"Quinn... just looks like he hates being there and is haunted by ghosts. And then he’s just brainstorming the craziest moves." — Eva (14:28)
"It’s actually called Mini-oscow St. Petersburg now. We have dubbed Minnesota Russia. So... world peace on the Minnesota Wild!" — Chris (35:33)
Dallas Stars: Playoff Disappointments
[32:18–34:29]
Key Discussions:
- Why doesn’t Dallas get the same level of scorn as perennially underachieving Carolina?
- "They have lost in the Western Conference final three years in a row. They just got bounced in the first round... Dallas doesn't get enough heat." — Chris (32:32)
- As other dominant rosters get blown up for repeated failure, is Dallas facing a summer of seismic changes?
Hosts speculate about possible major roster moves, e.g., Jason Robertson trade, as a result of playoff futility.
- Broader trend: the pressure for contenders to “do something” different if repeated deep runs keep ending prematurely.
Anaheim Ducks Upset Oilers — What Happened in Edmonton?
[42:10–76:11]
Key Discussion Points:
- Oilers’ Lineup Shuffling & Signs of Panic: The switch to a superline (McDavid-Draisaitl starting together) in Game 6 felt desperate.
- McDavid’s Health Issues:
- "I think his ankle is just destroyed... If this was a running sport, he would be out." (43:33)
- Persistent speculation that McDavid was seriously limited all series.
- Fatigue & Playoff Wear-Down:
- Oilers looked “unconfident” and “tired,” the price of two long playoff runs, even without a Cup.
- Ducks' Recipe for Victory:
- Enthusiastic praise for Ducks’ youthful energy (“young, dumb, and full of come”—a long-running pod joke), rising star Leo, goaltending from Dostal, and veteran Chris Kreider stepping up with a big birthday performance.
- "These might be the silly ducks. They're silly enough that they could cause some damage." — Dan (49:59)
- Coach Jay Woodcroft’s Role:
- His insider knowledge as a former Oilers coach noted as potentially crucial to Ducks’ special teams success.
- Special Teams Difference:
- "The Ducks’ power play: 8 for 16 in the series is bonkers. That is why they won, that is fucking bonkers." — Chris (55:19)
- Oilers’ PK woes and failure to dominate on the powerplay as in previous playoffs.
- Goaltending Review:
- Mixed reviews for Dostal, who “has been actually bad,” but came up with key saves.
- Ingram’s questionable performance for Oilers, especially on the Troy Terry goal.
- Oilers’ Emotional Letdown:
- Host analogy: “I got my popcorn... Here comes a McDavid two-goal job... And then the surge never came. I was so ready, dude. And the surge never had his fucking Celsius, stayed up all night. And then the game just ended.” (65:06)
- Ducks’ Playoff Outlook:
- “Don’t just play with house money... go beat the Mammoth, go beat a struggling Vegas, and then you’re in the WCF against a team that’s been through two wars!” — Chris (51:14)
- Fan Base Reactions: Edmonton:
- Despite heartbreak, fans gather in packed bars, vowing "next year, baby," reflecting the rugged spirit of Edmonton.
Oilers & McDavid: What’s Next?
[66:42–76:11]
Key Discussion Points:
- Existential Franchise Pressure:
“This is the moment. If Connor doesn’t go this summer... this is the summer you need to build a team that keeps Connor McDavid.”
- McDavid’s Future:
- Discussion of his contract, emotional connection to Edmonton, and speculation over whether he’d ask for a trade (“I’m sure he would like a little bit less scrutiny”).
- Detroit, LA, Toronto mooted as hypothetical landing spots.
- “Next year is the year. This is the most important season in the history of the Edmonton Oilers franchise.” — Chris (76:18)
- Organizational Review & Roster-building:
- Oilers must use their cap space wisely to build a cup contender or risk losing the league’s best player.
- Comparison to past NHL superstars’ loyalty (Sidney Crosby) and the “unfinished” feeling if McDavid leaves without a Cup.
Ducks’ Playoff Run: Youth, Depth, and Goaltending
Key Discussion Points:
- Anaheim’s fearless young core and “house money” mentality.
- Echoes of famous playoff underdog stories, energy in Honda Center, and the team’s “silly duck” vibes.
- If the Ducks beat the next opponent (Utah or Vegas), they could find themselves in a wide-open conference final.
Upcoming Games & Playoff Predictions
[76:46–81:33]
- Excitement for trio of pivotal Game 6s:
- Tampa Bay vs. Montreal
- Boston vs. Buffalo
- Vegas vs. Utah Mammoth
- Predictions and playful debate about whether hockey fans will “get the Game 7s we deserve.”
- Ongoing theme: “We need one of these [series] to go seven.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On Playoff Emotion
"Minnesota, finally, exorcises their first-round demons. Wild fans—after EIGHT straight first-round playoff exits!—you deserve this run." — Chris (07:11)
On Quinn Hughes’ Mystique
"Quinn can see everything... Don’t do anything embarrassing in your bedroom while the Wild game is on, because Quinn can see five blocks away." — Chris (13:03)
On Ducks’ Attitude
"These might be the silly ducks. They're silly enough that they could cause some damage." — Dan (49:59)
On Oilers’ Collapse
"We just never found it. We were an average team with high expectations. You're going to be disappointed." — Conor McDavid [quoted by host] (66:49)
On Oilers’ Franchise Inflection Point
"This is the most important season in the history of the Edmonton Oilers franchise. You don’t have to win, but you need to get very close." — Chris (76:18)
On Minnesota’s Playoff Freedom
"All the pressure’s on Colorado. If the Avs get bounced in the second round after last year, that’s a disaster. Minnesota comes in: house money, play loose." — Chris (29:03)
On Playoff Culture
"Communities go, 'Let’s be miserable together.' Our team lost, and everyone was out at the bars, boozing, being sad. That is why I love the Oilers." — Chris (75:24)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:02 – Opening reactions, tech issues, setting the scene
- 04:41 – Minnesota Wild/Dallas series recap with Eva Erickson (extensive)
- 21:34 – Best D pair in the league? (Faber/Hughes)
- 34:29 – Dallas Stars’ future and playoff reputation
- 42:10 – Edmonton Oilers/Anaheim Ducks breakdown, McDavid health speculation
- 49:59 – Ducks’ “silly duck” identity and playoff outlook
- 55:19 – Ducks’ special teams domination, Oilers’ PK analysis
- 66:42 – Oilers’ future, McDavid’s trajectory and existential pressures
- 76:11 – Summary, playoff picture ahead, weekend preview
Summary Takeaways
- The 2026 NHL Playoffs have already produced unlikely upsets of the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers in the first round.
- Minnesota ends a decade of earliest exits behind the stellar play of Quinn Hughes, breakout star Matt Boldy, and a deep, veteran roster.
- The Ducks’ youthful exuberance, depth, and tactical special teams trumped Edmonton’s star power and experience.
- Oilers face an existential offseason with pressure to build a Cup contender and retain Connor McDavid.
- The path in the West is wide open; the next round could be a springboard for a new champion.
- The hosts provide humor, candid fan insights, and deep hockey analysis for diehards and casual fans alike.
Skate hard!