Golden Knights eliminated, five factors behind their early exit
The Vegas Golden Knights (Credit: Getty Image)
The
Golden Knights
entered the playoffs with momentum, a Pacific Division title, and standout individual seasons. Expectations were high. Yet after a five-game loss to Edmonton, they're left with questions, not answers.
Despite solid numbers in the regular season; most goals in franchise history, a top-five offense; Vegas couldn't carry the same impact into the postseason. In the final two games, they failed to score. For a team that averaged over three goals a night, that silence spoke volumes.
Key players failed to rise when stakes climbed.
Jack Eichel
ended the series without a goal. Tomas Hertl and Pavel Dorofeyev didn't score or assist. The attack became predictable, and Edmonton's defense absorbed it with ease. The power play faded, the urgency dropped, and the finishing touch disappeared.
Stars stalled as depth faded fast
NHL Mic Drop: Oilers vs. Golden Knights Game 5 | Stanley Cup Playoffs
Vegas needed more from its bottom six forwards, but those contributions never came. Meanwhile, Edmonton found timely goals from names beyond McDavid and Draisaitl.
In tight series, depth matters. For Vegas, too many regulars vanished from the score sheet. Multiple players who shined during the season; Barbashev, Howden, Kolesar; were ineffective. The supporting cast that once added balance now added little.
The Oilers exploited that. They rolled four lines and kept pressure constant. Vegas couldn't match the intensity or adjust. The top line looked isolated, and the secondary lines didn't generate enough danger.
Defensive edge and crease control vanished
The Vegas Golden Knights (Credit: Getty Image)
Much of Vegas' 2023 Cup run leaned on heavy, physical defending. That edge was absent this time. The Golden Knights allowed too many goals from high-danger areas. Edmonton, by contrast, won key net-front battles and finished close-range chances.
Goaltender Adin Hill wasn't perfect, but the breakdowns in front of him were often glaring. Defensive gaps and second-chance rebounds hurt. At the same time, Vegas rarely forced Edmonton's goalie into difficult saves. The commitment to crash the crease simply wasn't consistent enough. Winning playoff hockey comes down to detail and grit in front of both nets. Vegas lacked both when it mattered most.
Wasted leads, missed chances on home ice
Vegas grabbed early leads in Games 1 and 2 but couldn't hold them. Opportunities to control the series slipped away. In Game 4, they had three first-period power plays but didn't score. At home, they went winless; something that rarely happened all year.
These were not isolated lapses but a pattern. Vegas struggled to finish games, extend leads, and respond when pressed. The Oilers capitalized on those gaps and never looked back.
The next step requires hard questions
Vegas has the pieces of a contender. But this postseason showed cracks. Whether it's a change in offensive mindset, lineup balance, or defensive toughness, adjustments are needed.
Read more:
Beyond the blue line, how Evan Bouchard's personal life shapes his rise in the NHL
The team can't rely on past success. Winning now takes more than numbers and skill. It takes urgency, execution, and fight; qualities that disappeared just when they were needed most.
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