The Edmonton Oilers continued their remarkable playoff resilience on Tuesday night, erasing another multi-goal deficit to defeat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 in Game 1 of the second-round series.
Zach Hyman scored the game-winner from above the right circle with 3:02 remaining, capping Edmonton’s record-setting fifth consecutive playoff comeback win in a single postseason. The Oilers trailed 2-0 before storming back to stun the Golden Knights, who had never previously lost a playoff game in regulation after holding a lead of two or more goals (47-4 overall).
“That’s the benefit of having a seasoned group,” said Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch. “These players have been through it — the highs and the lows. Playoff hockey is full of momentum swings, and I thought we handled that well tonight.”
Mark Stone scored both goals for Vegas, tying the franchise record with 36 playoff goals and extending his scoring streak to three games. But the Golden Knights managed just seven shots over the final two periods and were blanked after the first.
Game 2 is on Thursday night, and it is also in Las Vegas.
“We’ll review what happened and bounce back,” said Stone. “It’s a critical game for us.”
Leon Draisaitl led the way for Edmonton with a goal and an assist, while Corey Perry and Connor Brown scored. Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard each picked up two assists, with McDavid becoming just the fourth player in NHL history to record 10 or more assists in four straight postseasons. Goalie Calvin Pickard, facing minimal pressure after the first period, made 15 saves.
“We’ve found ways to win that aren’t always conventional,” said Hyman. “Tonight was about staying composed and taking over the game in the second and third.”
The first period featured fireworks from both top lines. Stone put Vegas up 2-0, scoring twice — his first coming on a double-minor power play. Perry answered for Edmonton, deking Adin Hill for a goal with assists from McDavid and Draisaitl to make it 2-1 before intermission.
Despite dominating the second period and outshooting Vegas 12-1, the Oilers couldn’t break through. But they struck quickly in the third, tying the game just 57 seconds in when Draisaitl’s backhand bounced in off the boards and Hill.
Hyman, who had taken a high stick earlier in the shift, netted the decisive goal late, and Brown sealed it just 76 seconds later.
Due to illness, Vegas played without star defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, giving Kaedan Korczak his first career playoff start. The Golden Knights were also missing top scorer Pavel Dorofeyev (35 regular-season goals) for a second straight game. According to coach Bruce Cassidy, he is still day to day with an undisclosed injury.
