This series is probably the first declaration of war in this postseason yet. The Edmonton Oilers and the Vegas Golden Knights series has divulged into an all-out war with the Oilers winning Game 4 4-1 to tie the series, essentially making it a best of three.
Even though nearly game has been a blowout, this is still the most fascinating series of the Second Round.
Anarchy, angry, desperation, and hatred boiled over last night with the Oilers and the Golden Knights combining for 107 penalty minutes as Edmonton thumped Las Vegas 4-1 to not only tie the series at 2, but also ensuring this series will now be decided in a best of three. And, you really can’t ask for anymore from this awesome, budding rivalry.
So, it’s no real surprise that Game 4 was decided by a high-scoring blowout win as the previous two games (Games 2, 3) both finished with the victorious team winning by at least four goals and scored five goals in total. And it was also not a great surprise that the Oilers, who came into the night down 2-1 after losing 5-1 at home in Game 3, ended up winning as they would have faced a catastrophe heading back to Las Vegas for Game 5 down 3-1 in the series.
However, what was a minor surprise was the fact that the Oilers won without either Connor McDavid (0 G, 2 A, 2 PTS), Leon Draisaitl (0 G, 1 A, 1 PT), Evander Kane (0 PTS), or Zach Hyman (0 PTS) found the back of the net in a game the Oilers won 4-1.
No, in what can only be seen as a relief by the Oilers, their depth and struggling stars finally got on the score sheet as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (1 G, 1 A, 2 PTS) and broke his goalless droughts, Mattias Ekholm (1 G, 1 PT) finally found the back of the net after racking up a half dozen assists, and Nick Bjugstad (1 G, 1 PT) chipped in with his third goal of the playoffs from the Oilers 4th line.
Yes, McDavid, Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard (1 G, 1 PT) all found their names on the score sheet, but they were able to take off some of the scoring weights off their shoulders by dishing the puck to these secondary scorers.
Along with Stuart Skinner having a great 24-save, .962% performance in net, the Oilers have to be happy they can win games against the Golden Knights without their superstars directly firing the puck in the back of the net. What they really shouldn’t be too happy about is the fact they may have awoken a sleeping bear in the Vegas Golden Knights as the final 10 or so minutes of Game 4 turned into a legit brawl.
There must have been 4-5 fights, dozens of heavy hits, 50+ slashes/cross checks/hooks as the Golden Knights tried desperately to reinforce their will on the series and ensure the Oilers didn’t leave Game 4 with too much momentum for Game 5.
Now, I believe Alex Pietrangelo’s vicious slash on Draisaitl went way too far as he honestly could have broken the German superstar’s forearm if he hit it a little harder (and he probably should be suspended), but I like how the Golden Knights didn’t just shrivel away and allow the Oilers to run riot over them.
The Golden Knights showed they still have heart and the resolve to win a series in which they have been utterly destroyed on two occasions, which is really rare for a team that finds itself tied 2-2 with its opponent.
I also liked how McDavid, who’s most definitely not the enforcer on this Oiler team, went after the 6′ 3″, 215 lbs. Pietrangelo after he nearly sliced off Draisaitl’s arm as that shows this team has great chemistry and unity needed to win tough series like this.
If I had to guess who’s going to win Game 5, I’d probably go with the Golden Knights as this series just goes back and forth with its momentum swings. But I could honestly see the Oilers wining Game 5 and setting up a series-closing Game 6 in front of a raccous Oilers crowd.
That’s what makes this series so exciting!
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