7 Observations: Golden Knights Claw Back, Lose OT Heartbreaker

After squandering a multi-goal lead in Game 1, the Vegas Golden Knights needed a win to avoid falling down 2-0 in their series against the Edmonton Oilers. Unlike in Game 1, the Golden Knights dictated play and didn’t let up after one period. However, they struggled to finish chances and ultimately fell 5-4 in overtime following a brutal missed call. 

The Golden Knights struck 8:42 into the first period. Jack Eichel worked the puck to Mark Stone below the goal line, who one-touched a pass to Victor Olofsson, who snapped a one-timer past Calvin Pickard’s glove before you could say tic-tac-toe. 

The Golden Knights controlled play for the rest of the first period but couldn’t get another past Pickard. 

So after 20 minutes of dominant play, the Golden Knights took a 1-0 lead into the second period. But the problem with one-goal leads is that they evaporate very, very quickly. 

And that’s exactly what happened.

The Golden Knights killed off an early penalty in the second period and continued their offensive barrage. They generated dangerous chances on a power play opportunity of their own but couldn’t solve Calvin Pickard. 

The Oilers found the equalizer at 11:31 in the second period. Vasily Podkolzin entered the zone with a head of steam, pulled up, and rimmed the puck around the boards to Viktor Arvidsson. Arvidsson drifted below the goal line and sent the puck back to Podkolzin, who set Jake Walman up for a one-timer that beat Adin Hill over the glove. 

The Oilers took the lead 15:18 into the second period. After Pickard denied Tanner Pearson on a breakaway, Vasily Podkolzin drove into the zone and beat Adin Hill with a wrister from the high slot. 

Less than two minutes later, the Oilers extended their lead. Leon Draisaitl entered the zone, lost the puck, but prevented Brayden McNabb from clearing. The puck bounced to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who set up Darnell Nurse, who beat Adin Hill from the slot. 

The Golden Knights answered 53 seconds later. Alex Pietrangelo rimmed the puck along the boards and up to Jack Eichel. Eichel entered the zone, pulled up, and wristed a shot that William Karlsson redirected past Calvin Pickard. 

The Oilers regained their two-goal lead less than two minutes into the third period. Zach Hyman and Evander Kane won a board battle and sent the puck into the zone. Kane found Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who chipped the puck ahead to Hyman; Hyman slid it back to Kane. Adin Hill made a sprawling save, but the puck bounced off Alex Pietrangelo and into the net. 

At 4:32 in the third period, the Golden Knights made it a one-goal game on the power play. Jack Eichel guided Victor Olofsson lower in the circle, then fed him for a one-timer. 

After Olofsson’s second goal, the Golden Knights took control of the game. They swarmed in waves, hemming the Oilers into their zone. At 11:58 in the third period, they scored the equalizer. Alex Pietrangelo played catch with Noah Hanifin at the blue line, then fired a shot on net through Tomáš Hertl’s screen.

In overtime, the Golden Knights picked up right where they left off. They generated chances and sustained offensive zone time. Calvin Pickard stood tall, but you got the feeling that it was only a matter of time.

And then, Nic Roy took an offensive zone penalty, crosschecking Trent Frederic in the face. Officials called it a five-minute major on the ice and upheld the call after review.

The Golden Knights rallied and killed off the major penalty. They hunkered down, blocked shots, and even had a few shorthanded looks. Adin Hill was stellar and bailed the defensemen out after a few unforced turnovers.

After killing off the five-minute major, the Golden Knights regained momentum and controlled play. At 5-on-5, they outshot the Oilers 7-2.

All for naught.

In the end, the Oilers only needed one shot. Corey Perry slid the puck to Connor McDavid, who flew through the neutral zone with speed. He blew past Jack Eichel, creating a 2-on-1 with Leon Draisaitl. Alex Pietrangelo couldn’t take the pass, and Draisaitl ended Game 2 at 15:20 in overtime. 

Three stars of the game: Leon Draisaitl, Victor Olofsson, Jack Eichel

7 Golden Knights Observations

1. Victor Olofsson drew into the lineup again in Pavel Dorofeyev’s absence. At 5-on-5, he’s a fine player. But on the power play in Game 2, Olofsson was automatic. 

2. Jack Eichel did a fantastic job containing Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl… until he didn’t. McDavid made him look silly on that overtime winner. However, the fact that McDavid only made him look silly once is a feat in itself. 

3. Brandon Saad is still offensively snake-bitten in ways words can’t express, but he played a great forechecking game on Thursday. Then, about midway through the second period, he left the bench and went down the tunnel. He took three very short shifts from then until about midway through the third period. Saad played semi-regularly from then on, but that’s something to watch.

4. Adin Hill picked a bad night to struggle the way he did. The first four Oilers’ goals were bad ones, plain and simple. That being said, Hill stood tall when the lights were brightest, and his team needed him the most. He made 10 saves in overtime, eight of which came on that five-minute major. And speaking of: 

5. Nic Roy’s five-minute major is the second penalty he’s taken in overtime this postseason. He’s a skilled player. But that’s an inexcusable lack of discipline at potentially the most crucial moment of the Golden Knights season.

6. What a horrific no-call in overtime. Viktor Arvidsson sent Brayden McNabb into the boards with a can-opener trip, and he was slow to get up. When he did, he headed right down the tunnel. The Golden Knights look to be without one of the best defensive defensemen in the league for the foreseeable future.

7. Heading to Edmonton down 2-0 in the series, the Golden Knights are living on a prayer. They can’t afford to return home with a split… if they return home at all.

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