7 Observations: Undisciplined Golden Knights Fall to Oilers; Clinch Playoffs

The Vegas Golden Knights (45-21-8) entered Tuesday’s game with the possibility of clinching their seventh playoff berth in eight seasons with a win. As it turned out, they didn’t need the win– an out-of-town score secured their spot in the playoffs before the Golden Knights started the third period. Thus, the result of tonight’s game doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things– and it’s a good thing because the Golden Knights lost to the Edmonton Oilers (43-26-5) by a final score of 3-2.

The Golden Knights started strong and were defensively stifling for most of the first period. Through 17 minutes, they outshot the Oilers 10-2. The Golden Knights controlled play and led 1-0 after 20 minutes.

Just over four minutes into the first period, Nic Roy scored his 12th goal of the season. Pavel Dorofeyev forced a turnover at center ice, shielded the puck from Leon Draisaitl, and entered the zone. He drifted to the right circle and passed to Roy, who slammed it past Calvin Pickard glove-side from the slot.

At the end of the first period, the Oilers started to push back. They hemmed the Golden Knights into their zone and generated a few quality looks before the horn sounded.

The Oilers carried that momentum into the second period and scored the equalizer just 19 seconds in. Evan Bouchard stopped Brayden McNabb’s clearing attempt and passed to Vasily Podkolzin at the point. Podkolzin fed Jake Walman, who drifted to the left circle and fired a clapper that beat Adin Hill far side.

The Golden Knights tightened up and started to get back to their game. Reilly Smith and William Karlsson had a great 2-on-1 opportunity, but Karlsson couldn’t finish off Smith’s feed. 

Penalties derailed the second period; the Golden Knights took two in 17 seconds to give the Oilers a 5-on-3. It took the Oilers just 17 seconds to take the lead. Their puck movement was crisp, forcing the Golden Knights’ penalty kill toward their net. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins sent a cross-ice pass to Leon Draisaitl to set him up for his 52nd goal of the season. Adin Hill was helpless to stop it.

Just over two minutes later, the Oilers extended their lead to two. Kasperi Kapanen found Viktor Arvidsson all alone atop the crease. Hill sprawled, making the initial save and covering the puck, but Arvidsson jammed away until it was in the net. Hill was adamant that the play should have been stopped; the Golden Knights challenged the call, but the goal was upheld. They killed off the ensuing bench minor.

The Golden Knights got back to their game in the third period and cut the Oilers’ lead to one 2:35 in. Pavel Dorofeyev danced through the zone with the puck, played catch with Kaedan Korczak, and fired a long-range wrister from the high slot that beat Calvin Pickard blocker side. 

The Golden Knights pushed hard for the rest of the third period but couldn’t finish. Pavel Dorofeyev had a pair of Grade-A opportunities– he rang the first off the crossbar, and Calvin Pickard saved the second. 

The Golden Knights pulled Adin Hill for the extra attacker with 1:53 remaining but failed to score the equalizer. 

Three stars of the game: Pavel Dorofeyev, Viktor Arvidsson, Jake Walman

7 Golden Knights Observations

1. Mark Stone skated in his 700th NHL game on Tuesday. This is a huge accomplishment for anyone, but especially for a player who has battled the injuries he has.

2. Pavel Dorofeyev scored his 32nd of the season, making him the team leader in goals. He’s a real talent– you can see every aspect of his game improving on a nightly basis. Dorofeyev has always been offensively gifted, but he’s evolving into a well-rounded player.

3. Jack Eichel was held off the scoresheet on Tuesday for just the second time in his last 16 games. Although he didn’t necessarily play poorly, he was less noticeable than he has been recently. Let’s hope this was a one-off for him because he’s just seven points away from his– and the franchise’s– first 100-point season. He’s been tremendous recently and was named the NHL’s first star of the month for March.

4. This observation is less about the game itself, but I think it’s important nonetheless. William Karlsson joined Brandon Saad in the exclusive neck guard-wearing Golden Knights club. Neck guards aren’t mandatory, so I find it commendable when players wear them– especially established veterans like Karlsson and Saad, who lead by example.

5. The Golden Knights have been disciplined this season and are the second least-penalized team in the league. Tonight, however, was an exception. Failed challenge aside, penalties were their downfall in the second period. They took themselves out of the game.

6. The Golden Knights penalty kill was very, very good on Tuesday. They went three-for-four against an Oilers power play that is lethal even without the ever-dangerous Connor McDavid. They allowed their first 5-on-3 goal against in game 74 of the season, but it’s hard to place blame. If the Golden Knights can build on their improving power play in the remaining eight regular season games, it could be a huge advantage for them going into the playoffs.

7. Speaking of playoffs, the Golden Knights punched their ticket thanks to some help from out-of-town scores. The Utah Hockey Club defeated the Calgary Flames in regulation to clinch the Golden Knights’ seventh playoff berth in their first eight seasons. The success the Golden Knights have come to enjoy isn’t unprecedented, but it is unparalleled.

“The continuity is a credit to everyone up top. [The organization] put a great product on the ice every year,” said head coach Bruce Cassidy. “This team is, to me, a playoff team and should be in the playoffs. We’re going to be happy we’re in, but that’s not our ultimate goal– nor should it be… It’s 74 games of hard work to get there; it didn’t happen overnight. The guys should be proud. It doesn’t happen every year… But our expectation is we’ll be there and compete for the cup, and I’d like to think this year will be the year we’ll do that.”