NHL / STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS : With No Love Lost by Oilers, North Stars Win Again, 5-1

The Edmonton Oilers are building up a lot of hate for the Minnesota North Stars, who just love it.

Dave Gagner had a goal and an assist Wednesday night to lead the North Stars past the Oilers, 5-1, leaving Minnesota one victory from the Stanley Cup finals.

“They talked about trying to hate us at the beginning of the series, and I suppose they’ve accomplished that,” Gagner said. “But we think it’s more important to win the series.”

The North Stars have a 3-1 lead in the Campbell Conference finals and head back to Edmonton for Game 5 Friday night.

Only eight teams in NHL history have rebounded from 3-1 deficits.

Oiler Coach John Muckler, who said after Edmonton’s Game 1 loss that his team needed to have some hate for the North Stars, was upset that Minnesota was more physical.

“We have to overcome that,” he said. “We’ll get that job done yet.”

Edmonton scored on Craig MacTavish’s goal 8:40 into the game, but Marc Bureau and Mike Modano scored 18 seconds apart later in the first period.

Gagner scored on a power play at 1:03 of the second period and Neil Wilkinson and Neal Broten added goals later in the period.

Minnesota, 19-2-2 at Met Center since Jan. 17, has outscored opponents, 34-13, in winning consecutive home playoff games. The North Stars are 4-0 against Edmonton this season at Met Center, outscoring the Oilers, 22-6.