Kingerski: Why the Golden Knights Can Squash the Oilers, AGAIN

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

While the hockey world drools over the dynamic duo of the Edmonton Oilers, there lurks a silent assassin waiting in the weeds of the Western Conference: The Vegas Golden Knights.

No, the Golden Knights no longer get the breathless short-spanned attention of the drive-by fans and casual bandwagoneers who jumped on because the Golden Knights were the shiny new toys with a spiffy pre-game show. No, the Golden Knights don’t attract distant fans who fell in love with the newly retired sweet prince named Marc-Andre Fleury.

Nope.

Instead, general manager Kelly McCrimmon, with support from president of hockey operations George McPhee and owner Bill Foley, has made the hard decisions to build and rebuild a team without loyalty or favor. Of course, pay no attention to bringing back Misfit Reilly Smith–that was just a little extra bonus after he stunk with the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers.

The Golden Knights’ Round Two victory over their rivals from the Great White North in 2023 was a roundhouse right hand that shook the Oilers organization, forcing them to make significant changes, including behind the bench. The Oilers charged back in the Stanley Cup Final and nearly pulled off the greatest comeback in Cup Final history, but alas, achingly fell one goal short in Game 7 against the Florida Panthers.

Too bad. It took the same miles off Edmonton’s legs but without the reward.

However, this is still the Golden Knights, who have added and retooled since their last collision. Edmonton has added … Adam Henrique, Jake Walman, and the ineffective John Klingberg.

Edmonton still relies on the ever-so-shaky Stuart Skinner. Or Calvin Pickard.

Adin Hill was lit up in a couple of the Round One games by the Minnesota Wild, but he’s a money goalie. The bigger the game, the bigger the 6-foot-6 netminder looks. He was superb in the series-clinching Game 6.

The Golden Knights still have the keys to beat Edmonton in playoff hockey: Defensemen who take care of their own zone. Jack Eichel shut down McDavid at 5v5 in ’23 because he could skate with McDavid and force him to play in the defensive zone. And the Golden Knights have far superior depth scoring from the front and back.

Since that last victory, McCrimmon has added Tomas Hertl and the rejuvenated Brandon Saad. They dot the Golden Knights’ top six. William Karlsson had a quiet season by his standards, but he is always a threat. And fourth-line wingers Tanner Pearson and Viktor Olofsson have far more offensive punch than their lineup slots suggest, which only adds to the plethora of scoring options against the traditionally weak Oilers’ defensive prowess.

Edmonton surrendered 24 goals to the low-scoring LA Kings in Round One, and allowed fewer than four goals just twice in six games.

Since last they met, the Golden Knights also improved their blue line speed with Noah Hanafin. Blue line speed helps against Edmonton, but it’s not the only way to win. While Shea Theodore might not have the wheels he did two years ago, Bruce Cassidy has shown an ability to scheme against Edmonton by taking away the middle of the ice. Edmonton will skate up and down the rink on the outside, but they have been unable to penetrate the middle when Cassidy orders a clampdown.

In full disclosure, this time the VGK won’t have Jonathan Marchessault’s uncanny ability to snipe a goal just moments after Edmonton scores, but they won’t need it. The Golden Knights are no longer a team of destiny or riding a wave of inevitability. This time, they are simply the deeper, sturdier, better team, while Edmonton still relies on pairing McDavid and Draisaitl, and hitting their knees each night, praying for a Skinner hot streak.

This series is when the pain of saying goodbye to several Misfits will pay off.

In this series, the Golden Knights have the distinct advantage, and the result should be the same as the last time.