McDavid hated every second of this controversial penalty call

Right off the bat, McDavid was involved in a controversial high sticking incident with Matt Duchene, which initially escaped the referees' notice. Following the sequence, a conference among the officials led to McDavid receiving a double minor penalty—an intense moment that put the Oilers' penalty kill abilities to a rigorous test. Remarkably, they rose to the occasion in what was arguably the clutchest moment of the game.

The night was marked by what many felt was a lopsided officiating, heavily skewed in favor of the Dallas Stars. The Stars, penalized only once for too many men on the ice, seemed to have a relatively lenient scrutiny compared to the Oilers. The Oilers, on the other hand, faced missed calls against them with none deemed significant enough for a review, at least through the eyes of the referees who seemed convinced of the Stars' near flawless play.

The plot took a victorious turn in the second overtime when McDavid scored the game-winning goal, a redeeming strike that erased the earlier penalty woes. Post-game, McDavid was in high spirits, humorously commenting on the ordeal and his stint in the penalty box, along with an apologetic nod to the late-night audience.

Despite a missed opportunity in the first overtime, where Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger denied him, McDavid kept the mood light, joking about the extended playtime yet acknowledging his missed chance with a mix of humor and focus.

With the Oilers reclaiming home ice advantage and gearing up for a pivotal Game 2, the stakes are high as they aim to advance further, potentially marking a historic entry into the Stanley Cup Final in the McDavid era. The team's resilience and McDavid's leadership are peaking at the right moment, setting the stage for what could be a memorable playoff run.