Despite giving up three power-play goals, the Vegas Golden Knights held off the Edmonton Oilers and are now one win away from advancing to the Western Conference Final. Vegas relied on a crucial penalty kill late in the game to secure a 4-3 victory in Game 5 on Friday night, taking a 3-2 lead in their second-round playoff series.
Clinging to a two-goal lead heading into the third period and facing a 4:36 major penalty against the NHL’s top-ranked power play, the Golden Knights allowed just one goal and maintained their lead.
“That was a potential turning point, but we got through it,” said Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy. “Even though we lost the special teams battle, we came out ahead in our minds.”
Jack Eichel led the way for Vegas with a goal and two assists, while Mark Stone, Reilly Smith, and Nic Hague also scored. Jonathan Marchessault matched a franchise playoff record with three assists, and Adin Hill made 31 saves in net.
Connor McDavid scored two power-play goals for Edmonton, and Zach Hyman added a goal and an assist. Stuart Skinner allowed four goals on 22 shots and was replaced by Jack Campbell late in the second period. Campbell stopped all nine shots he faced in relief.
Game 6 will be Sunday in Edmonton.
Both teams were missing key defensemen—Vegas was without Alex Pietrangelo, suspended for slashing Leon Draisaitl in Game 4, and Edmonton’s Darnell Nurse was suspended for instigating a fight in the same game.
Edmonton struck first, with McDavid and Hyman scoring in the opening 10 minutes to give the Oilers a 2-1 lead. McDavid’s goal just 3:02 into the game continued Edmonton’s trend of fast starts, scoring within the first 6:46 in every game this series.
Vegas, however, responded with a flurry of three goals in just 1:29 during the second period—the fastest three-goal stretch in the team’s playoff history. Stone scored on a 5-on-3 power play, Smith added another on a 5-on-4, and Hague’s long-range shot made it 4-2, chasing Skinner from the net.
“Jack [Campbell] did his job,” said Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft. “He gave us a chance, and we pushed hard in the third period.”
That third-period push began with a five-minute power play following Keegan Kolesar’s game misconduct for boarding Edmonton’s Mattias Ekholm. McDavid scored 2:40 into the power play to cut the deficit to 4-3, but Vegas held firm the rest of the way.
“That was the difference,” said Hill. “If they score two on that power play, it’s a tie game. Our guys did a great job killing it.”
McDAVID UP FOR HART TROPHY
Connor McDavid is a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s most valuable player. McDavid led the league in goals (64), assists (89), and points (153) this season, all career highs. If he wins, it would be his third Hart Trophy, having previously won in 2017 and 2021.
KARLSSON’S BIG DAY
William Karlsson played nearly 19 minutes and contributed an assist after welcoming his first child, a baby boy, early Friday morning. He is the sixth Golden Knights player to become a father this season.
Coach Cassidy joked, “We may need to call the guys back in July or August and say, ‘Let’s get back to work, fellas.’ A summer project for sure.”