The Edmonton Oilers are absolutely rolling, storming ahead with their first four-game winning streak since mid-January, and they’ve done it at the perfect time. After erasing a two-game series deficit against the Los Angeles Kings, they’re heading to the second round for the fourth straight year.
In two of the past three seasons, they’ve reached the conference finals, only faltering once two years ago against the Vegas Golden Knights. Back then, the Oilers were simply outmatched. Even with Leon Draisaitl lighting up the scoreboard and their top stars delivering, Edmonton didn’t have the depth to compete.
But this year? Things look completely different. This Oilers squad has the firepower, depth, and confidence to go toe-to-toe with the Pacific Division champs and take them down.
Here are three crucial areas that will make or break this showdown between the Oilers and Golden Knights:
THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS’ DEFENSIVE UNIT
One of the biggest takeaways from the Oilers-Kings series was how effectively Edmonton wore down LA’s top defensemen. Kings coach Jim Hiller rarely trusted his fourth line or bottom defenders, forcing heavy ice time on his top four, and the Oilers made them pay late in games.
This time, Edmonton faces a much deeper Vegas blue line. Daily Faceoff shows Noah Hanifin and Zach Whitecloud anchoring the Golden Knights’ third pairing, highlighting their impressive defensive depth. With studs like Alex Pietrangelo, Shea Theodore, and Hanifin spread across all three pairings, Vegas can roll lines with ease.
But here’s the catch: Vegas struggled against Minnesota. Pietrangelo and Hanifin were outscored 5-2 at even strength, Theodore and McNabb were outscored 6-5, and even the Whitecloud-Hague pairing finished in the red. Either Vegas finds their defensive rhythm quickly, or they’ll face a nightmare scenario against the Oilers’ relentless offence.
EDMONTON’S RELENTLESS DEPTH
Sure, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard will always get their points because they’re playoff machines. But this year, Edmonton’s supporting cast is stepping up big-time, too.
Against the Kings, the depth proved decisive. In the last two games, the Oilers won without McDavid or Draisaitl factoring into a single goal at 5-on-5. The trio of Evander Kane, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Zach Hyman dominated, boasting the best expected-goals percentage of any forward line playing 30-plus minutes in the opening round.
Even further down the lineup, Trent Frederic heated up late against LA, Connor Brown is playing his best hockey as an Oiler, and the fourth-line combination of Mattias Janmark, Vasiliy Podkolzin, and Viktor Arvidsson pitched in crucial goals. Vegas faces a brutal matchup nightmare: How do you slow down a lineup this loaded?
THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE PIPES
Goaltending could decide the series. The Oilers don’t need elite netminding to win, they simply need steady, reliable play.
In round one, the Golden Knights’ Adin Hill was shaky, posting a subpar .880 save percentage and allowing two more goals than expected. Meanwhile, Edmonton’s Calvin Pickard provided a steady “high-floor, low-ceiling” presence, something the Oilers desperately needed after Stuart Skinner struggled early against the Kings.
If Hill remains average and Pickard continues his stable performance, the Oilers have a huge advantage. They don’t need heroics, just consistency.
Bottom line: this Edmonton team isn’t just good, they’re built for a deep run. Vegas better buckle up, because Edmonton is coming in hot, deep, and hungry for more.
