On Sunday, the Vegas Golden Knights (16-8-10) played the second of a road back-to-back against the Edmonton Oilers (18-13-6). It was all Oilers in the first half of the game, and the Golden Knights found themselves facing a 4-0 deficit midway through the second. Mitch Marner and Tomáš Hertl led a late rally, but the Oilers held on for a 4-3 win.
The Oilers broke the ice at 9:11 in the first period. Connor McDavid entered the zone with a head of steam, blew around Jeremy Lauzon, and scored.
The Oilers doubled their lead on the power play at 14:37 in the first. Leon Draisaitl threaded a cross-ice pass to an unguarded Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for an easy back-door tap-in.
In the second period, the Golden Knights outshot the Oilers 10-6. However, they allowed seven high-danger chances and generated only two.
The Oilers added another on the power play at 2:22 in the second. They drew the Golden Knights’ penalty kill out of position, and Connor McDavid found Ryan Nugent-Hopkins all alone at the goal line for an easy goal.
The Oilers scored what stood as the game-winner at 7:45 in the second. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins raced up ice on a 3-on-2 and gave the puck to Darnell Nurse, who entered the zone and found Zach Hyman in the high slot. Hyman drove the net, pulled to his backhand to avoid Noah Hanifin, waited out Carter Hart, and scored.
The Golden Knights finally solved Connor Ingram on the power play at 12:59 in the second. Mitch Marner threaded a centering pass to Tomáš Hertl in the slot, and Hertl fired it home.
In the third period, the Golden Knights controlled play. They outshot the Oilers 12-4 and generated six high-danger chances to Edmonton’s one.
The Golden Knights cut the Oilers’ lead in half on the power play at 3:52 in the third. Tomáš Hertl tipped Noah Hanifin’s blast from the point, and Connor Ingram made the stop. Pavel Dorofeyev corralled the puck and potted the rebound.
Less than two minutes later, the Golden Knights pulled to within one. Mitch Marner circled up through the zone and found Tomáš Hertl in front of the net. Connor Ingram kicked out Hertl’s attempt, so Hertl backhanded a centering pass back to Marner, who tucked it home.
Despite pushing hard, the Golden Knights couldn’t find the equalizer. They have now lost three in a row.
7 Golden Knights Observations
1. The Golden Knights allowed the first goal for the 19th time this season. After tonight’s regulation loss, they have a record of 6-7-7 when allowing the first goal.
2. For the third straight game, the Golden Knights took the ice without Jack Eichel and Shea Theodore. In those three games, they have a record of 0-2-1. Despite outshooting their opponents 103-80, they have been outscored 12-7.
3. Without Eichel, the Golden Knights are down a center. Ivan Barbashev took over those responsibilities last night against the Calgary Flames; tonight, it was Mitch Marner’s turn.
4. Even without Eichel on the half wall, the Golden Knights’ power play remains impressive. They went 2-for-5 tonight, and even when they didn’t score, they got their fair share of looks. Admittedly, the Oilers do have the 23rd ranked penalty kill.
5. Mitch Marner has really stepped up in Eichel’s absence. He recorded his second consecutive multipoint night— that’s 13 on the season. Despite the outcome, his third period goal gave the Golden Knights a fighting chance.
6. It was a rough night for Jeremy Lauzon, who was at least partially responsible for the first two Oilers goals, and took the penalty leading to the third. When Lauzon was on the ice, the Oilers outshot the Golden Knights 7-4 and generated five high-danger chances to Vegas’ one.
7. Although they’ve been better as of late, the Golden Knights have started slowly for most of the season. When they’re fully healthy, they can occasionally get away with taking the first two periods off. This is clearly not the case when they are down both Eichel and Theodore.
