Second Chance for Oilers against Golden Knights: "The stakes are higher when we face Vegas"
The Edmonton Oilers are setting sail for the Vegas Golden Knights in this year's second-round NHL playoffs, aiming to avenge a series lost just two years ago and snag a shot at redemption.
These two teams faced off during the 2023 post-season, with Vegas taking home the Stanley Cup after a hard-fought six-game series against the Oilers. The loss served as a harsh awakening for Edmonton, who were high on Cup aspirations before running into the Golden Knights. Vegas claimed Game 1 and maintained the lead throughout the series.
Captain Connor McDavid spoke up on Sunday, displaying an air of confidence. "We've got a good team, and as good as a chance as anyone. Looking forward to getting to Vegas and getting started," he said. "But we've got to find a way to start the series better. We've got to learn from our failures, and that was one of them. It was a good learning experience."
The series begins in Vegas on Tuesday, with the Golden Knights standing tall as a formidable opponent. Their 56-goal differential between goals scored and goals against was tops in the Pacific Division and second in the Western Conference.
Both teams face some uncertainties between the pipes. Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch mentioned that his starter for Game 1 is up in the air, with Calvin Pickard filling in for Stuart Skinner in the previous round when the Oilers found themselves down 2-0 against the Los Angeles Kings. Edmonton managed to rally and win in six games.
Meanwhile, Adin Hill allowed four goals in back-to-back games as Minnesota took the 2-1 lead last round, but improved by the end of the series as Vegas came back to win in six.
Both teams bring a wealth of recent playoff experience. The Oilers pushed it to Game 7 in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, while Vegas hoisted the cup in 2023.
"Obviously great team," McDavid said. "So they're a proven group, battle-tested."
The teams tested the waters during their April 1 matchup, with Edmonton taking a 3-2 win after a goal-heavy second period and nothing to follow. "It was a playoff style game, I guess," Pickard said. "Two great teams, a pretty tight defensive game. Everything is magnified when we play Vegas."
Hyman, a player on the losing 2023 team, acknowledged the difference between the teams but spoke of a collective chip on their shoulders. "They beat us back then and landed the Cup," he said. "So we definitely want to even things up. Different teams, different players, but same score, I guess."
Knoblauch acknowledged that there might be some lingering hard feelings against Vegas, but stated that he doesn't think the Oilers need that as motivation in the playoffs. "I just see a bunch of guys that are, as always, motivated, no matter who our opponent is, and I don't know, maybe there was some hatred," Knoblauch said. "But (from) my perspective, I would think that no matter who we were playing, our guys would be in this frame of mind as they are in right now."
One area Knoblauch highlighted the Oilers will have to address is the penalty kill. Edmonton had a pedestrian 60% kill rate against the Kings. "I think the most important thing when assembling who's going to kill penalties, is who is going to kill the penalty," Knoblauch said. "But right now, I think it's most important for us to have the personnel who's going to work well together, and McDavid and Hyman are good together, and they have been out there for some of the kills."
Get ready for a thrilling series as both teams kick off their playoff run on May 6, aiming for another shot at the coveted Stanley Cup.
[1]: Enrichment - Both teams reached the conference final annually since 2020, with Vegas winning the Cup in 2023 and Edmonton falling short in the 2024 Final.[2]: Enrichment - Vegas defeated Edmonton in six games in the 2023 second round, en route to winning their first Stanley Cup.[3]: Enrichment - Series begins May 6 at T-Mobile Arena.
- In this year's NHL playoffs, the Edmonton Oilers are sending news of their determination to play against the Vegas Golden Knights, aiming to fulfill their aspirations of redemption by avenging their 2023 second-round loss.
- Connor McDavid, the Oilers' captain, has asserted their hockey team's confidence, asserting that they have as good a chance as any team in the NHL, especially with the start of the second round series against the Golden Knights on May 6.
- As for the sports of the series, both teams boast recent playoff experiences, with Vegas raising the Stanley Cup in 2023 and Edmonton pushing it to Game 7 in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.
- The Oilers, however, face challenges in their preparation, particularly between the pipes, where the starting goalie for Game 1 remains uncertain following Calvin Pickard's performance when Stuart Skinner was injured last round.
