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Time of India
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
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. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
National Post
10-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Skinner back in net for Oilers with Pickard out day to day with injury
Article content You know that feeling you get when things are going well, that it almost seems too well? Article content Article content The Edmonton Oilers do. Article content Or at least, they did. Right up until Calvin Pickard got hurt. The backup goalie who came in and turned the team's playoffs around with six straight wins — eclipsing the run of five that stood as their best stretch over the entire regular season — got shook up during a collision in the crease with Vegas Golden Knights forward Tomas Hertl in Thursday's Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series. Article content And while Pickard managed to shake it off and remain on the ice on the way to making 28 saves in a 5-4 overtime win to send the Oilers back home for games 3 and 4, he wasn't part of the homecoming, replaced by Stuart Skinner, who had been last seen opening up these playoffs with back-to-back losses, 6-5 and 6-2, to the Los Angeles Kings in Round 1. Article content 'Obviously it's not the situation we want to be in, but that's playoffs,' Skinner said. 'You need two goalies to normally go all the way, so I'm excited to be back to the net, I've had some time to work on some things and I'm ready to go.' Article content Pickard is 6-0 since taking over in goal, with a 2.84 goals against average and .888 save percentage, but is officially listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Article content 'We're expecting (Skinner) to come in and deliver what he's done before,' Knoblauch said following Saturday's morning skate. 'He was in the situation last year after having a little break in the Vancouver series and came back and was a solid goaltender throughout that series against Vancouver and throughout the rest of the playoffs. I think he's ready and we're going to go from that.' Article content Skinner entered Game 3 with a 6.11 goals-against average and .810 save percentage. Article content Article content He went 26-18-4 in 50 starts in the regular season, with a 2.81 goals-against average and .896 save percentage. Last year, he went 14-9 in 23 playoff starts on the way to appearing in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, where the Oilers lost 2-1 to the Florida Panthers. Article content 'I've been here before, so nothing is that new to me,' Skinner said. 'It's an opportunity for me to do my job and just give these guys a chance, that's all I can do. Article content 'I'll just go out there play my game, I know the building is going to be loud so I'm really excited to get back in there.' Article content He probably wasn't the only one excited for a change in Edmonton's net. Article content The Golden Knights all of a sudden didn't have to face a goalie on a six-game heater, who came into their barn and stole home-ice advantage right out from under division champs in Games 1 and 2. Article content Then again, how much difference did they expect a change from Pickard to Skinner to make, when it's the same skaters out front employing the same systems that cued up a six-game win streak? Article content 'They're different. I think their techniques are different, the way they play,' said Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy. 'In terms of the tendencies they have, that will be pointed out to our shooters. But I don't think Edmonton's going to change the way they play, if that makes any sense?
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Oilers bring 2-0 lead into game 3 against the Golden Knights
Vegas Golden Knights (50-22-10, in the Pacific Division) vs. Edmonton Oilers (48-29-5, in the Pacific Division) Edmonton, Alberta; Saturday, 9 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Oilers -119, Golden Knights -101; over/under is 6.5 Advertisement NHL PLAYOFFS SECOND ROUND: Oilers lead series 2-0 BOTTOM LINE: The Edmonton Oilers host the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round of the NHL Playoffs with a 2-0 lead in the series. The teams meet Thursday for the seventh time this season. The Oilers won the last matchup 5-4 in overtime. Edmonton has a 21-12-1 record in Pacific Division games and a 48-29-5 record overall. The Oilers have a 20-8-4 record in games they convert at least one power play. Vegas has a 19-6-3 record in Pacific Division games and a 50-22-10 record overall. The Golden Knights have a 22-11-2 record when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent. Advertisement TOP PERFORMERS: Connor McDavid has 26 goals and 74 assists for the Oilers. Leon Draisaitl has five goals and eight assists over the past 10 games. Tomas Hertl has 32 goals and 29 assists for the Golden Knights. Mark Stone has four goals and four assists over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Oilers: 7-3-0, averaging 3.9 goals, 6.5 assists, 4.4 penalties and 12.5 penalty minutes while giving up 3.5 goals per game. Golden Knights: 5-3-2, averaging 3.2 goals, 5.3 assists, 2.4 penalties and 5.9 penalty minutes while giving up 3.1 goals per game. INJURIES: Oilers: None listed. Golden Knights: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Associated Press
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Oilers bring 2-0 lead into game 3 against the Golden Knights
Vegas Golden Knights (50-22-10, in the Pacific Division) vs. Edmonton Oilers (48-29-5, in the Pacific Division) Edmonton, Alberta; Saturday, 9 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Oilers -119, Golden Knights -101; over/under is 6.5 NHL PLAYOFFS SECOND ROUND: Oilers lead series 2-0 BOTTOM LINE: The Edmonton Oilers host the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round of the NHL Playoffs with a 2-0 lead in the series. The teams meet Thursday for the seventh time this season. The Oilers won the last matchup 5-4 in overtime. Edmonton has a 21-12-1 record in Pacific Division games and a 48-29-5 record overall. The Oilers have a 20-8-4 record in games they convert at least one power play. Vegas has a 19-6-3 record in Pacific Division games and a 50-22-10 record overall. The Golden Knights have a 22-11-2 record when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent. TOP PERFORMERS: Connor McDavid has 26 goals and 74 assists for the Oilers. Leon Draisaitl has five goals and eight assists over the past 10 games. Tomas Hertl has 32 goals and 29 assists for the Golden Knights. Mark Stone has four goals and four assists over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Oilers: 7-3-0, averaging 3.9 goals, 6.5 assists, 4.4 penalties and 12.5 penalty minutes while giving up 3.5 goals per game. Golden Knights: 5-3-2, averaging 3.2 goals, 5.3 assists, 2.4 penalties and 5.9 penalty minutes while giving up 3.1 goals per game. INJURIES: Oilers: None listed. Golden Knights: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rely On Barbashev, Hertl Leading Golden Knights Bounce Back Win Over Oilers
Edmonton Oilers aim for commanding 2-0 series lead over Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday The Golden Knights were stunned in their first game versus the Oilers as Leon Draisaitl and company came back from a two-goal deficit with four unanswered goals for a shocking 4-2 victory. Vegas will look to come back and even up the series while Edmonton looks to take a commanding 2-0 series lead before heading back home. For bettors, this matchup provides a chance to capitalize on some of our recent strong trends, like our 31-21 record on our last 51 picks, including perfect records during Game 1 and 4 of the Maple Leafs-Senators series. All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly. More NHL: Edmonton Oilers vs Vegas Golden Knights Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Future Options Golden Knights ML (-134) Golden Knights Over 3.5 goals (+104) Golden Knights Score First (-125) Tomas Hertl Over 0.5 points (-156) Ivan Barbashev Over 0.5 points (+142) It would be very surprising to see the Golden Knights drop both of their home games to start the series as they've done this just once in their last 19 home playoff games. We can expect a much harder effort in this spot and there's a pair of forwards that should snap point droughts in Tomas Hertl and Ivan Barbashev, who both have gone three games without finding the scoresheet. Barbashev dominated during the Golden Knights series versus Edmonton in 2023 with three goals and three assists for six points through as many games. More NHL: Toronto Maple Leafs vs Florida Panthers Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Future Options The 29-year-old Russian winger is listed on Vegas' top line and will most definitely continue seeing chances while playing with a superstar centre in Jack Eichel and the Golden Knights top playoff performer in recent years with captain Mark Stone. Hertl hasn't found the same success in this matchup with one point over his last six games versus Edmonton but that could mean he is due for a big game. The former San Jose Shark has been red hot to end the season and into the first round with four goals and three assists for seven points over a five-game stretch before his recent cold streak. He also plays meaningful minutes as he's slated on the team's second line and mans the top power play unit. The two should give the Golden Knights a massive push on offence while the Oilers continue to have defensive woes with three or more goals allowed in five of their seven playoff games so far. More NHL: Utah Hockey Club Announces New Team Name
