Blog: Oilers stars too much for Golden Knights in 4-2 loss

By Justin Emerson

Published Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019 | 3 p.m.

Updated Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019 | 9:35 p.m.

The Golden Knights faced what might be the two best players in hockey this season on Saturday night. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl entered the game tied for the NHL lead in points, then did their thing at T-Mobile Arena.

McDavid scored twice and Draisaitl had three assists as the Golden Knights fell to the Oilers 4-2.

The Oilers didn't shut it down after entering the third period with a 3-2 lead. They grabbed a power play just 39 seconds into the period following a Max Pacioretty interference on an offensive-zone draw. After killing the first Edmonton power play, Vegas couldn't do the same on the second.

Marc-Andre Fleury saved the initial shot, but the save pulled him out of position and into the trapezoid away from the crease. That allowed Draisaitl to collect the puck behind the net and feed McDavid for the one-timer at 2:11 of the third.

McDavid's first goal also came on a feed from Draisaitl. In the first period Draisaitl fished a puck out of the corner and gave it to mcDavid, who skated across the slot in front of the crease and beat a sprawling Fleury to open the scoring at 5:17.

Ethan Bear scored in the first and Markus Granlund scored in the second for Edmonton's other goals.

Both of Vegas' goals were high-skilled plays. First was Cody Eakin, with his third goal in four game, corralling a bouncing puck and backhanding it by Mike Smith at 19:40 of the first. Then it was Shea Theodore dancing around the Oilers defense and taking it himself ay 14:19 of the second.

The Golden Knights pulled Fleury with 2:37 remaining in the game for the extra attacker, but managed just two shots on goal.

Edmonton led in shots on goal 31-27 for the game.

Golden Knights chasing 1 heading to 3rd

The Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers traded goals in the second period, keeping Vegas in a hole entering the period, 3-2.

The Oilers' power play is best in the league at a 31.4% conversion rate, but it was the Golden Knights who had the best look. As they often do while on the penalty kill, the pair of William Karlsson and Reilly Smith made life difficult for the opposing power play. Karlsson ended up with a breakaway, and Vegas killed the remainder of the penalty by keeping it in the Edmonton zone.

But the Oilers netted the first of the period a short time later. It was Markus Granlund who won an individual battle in front of the net and put home a backhander to make it 3-1 at the 12:04 mark of the second period.

Shea Theodore then took things into his own hands, driving from the blue line, dancing around Adam Larsson and whipping it by Mike Smith to return the game to a one-goal state just 2:15 after the Granlund goal.

Edmonton continued the control play, including keeping the puck in the Vegas zone for nearly all of the last five minutes of the period, and led in shots on goal 22-17.

Golden Knights in early hole against Oilers

The game plan for any team facing the Oilers is to stop Connor McDavid. And like most teams, it didn't work.

McDavid scored the first goal of the game and the Golden Knights trailed the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 after 20 minutes.

McDavid has a point in seven of the eight games he's played against Vegas in his career and he quickly made it eight of nine in the first period, skating through the slot and wrapping the puck around Marc-Andre Fleury at 5:17. Leon Draisaitl assisted on the goal, giving them both a league-leading 45 points on the season.

Even when the Oilers' twin superstars weren't on the ice Edmonton controlled the game. Vegas had trouble getting the puck out its own zone and the Oilers had the majority of scoring chances, despite a 9-9 tie in shots on goal.

Edmonton used that to its advantage and potted another before the period was over. McDavid and Draisaitl were on the ice, but it was Ethan Bear who ripped one from the point that beat Fleury to put the Oilers up 2-0 with four minutes remaining in the period.

The Golden Knights have only erased a two-goal deficit once this season, last Saturday in Los Angeles. They still ended up losing that game.

So they started chipping away before the period ended. Cody Eakin never lost sight of a blocked Nick Holden shot, and swatted a bouncing puck over the shoulder of Oilers goalie Mike Smith with 19 seconds left to make it 2-1.

Golden Knights to face McDavid, Draisaitl and division-leading Oilers

It's always something special when Connor McDavid comes to town. This time around, he's bringing with him someone who has been just as good.

McDavid shares the Edmonton Oilers' team lead in goals, assists and points with Leon Draisaitl, who has taken the step this season from terrific to elite. The Golden Knights will be tasked when stopping them both when the Pacific Division-leading Oilers make their first stop in Las Vegas at 7 p.m.

"The obvious key is we've got to try and slow down their top guys, somehow," forward Max Pacioretty said. "Realistically, at the end of the day, it's almost impossible to play just defense against those guys. The best way to counter-balance that is by trying to play in their end and make them defend. It's a tough task, but one that we have to achieve if we want to win this game."

McDavid has had his way with the Golden Knights in his career, racking up five goals and 13 points in eight career games. Draisaitl meanwhile had a breakout season last year with 50 goals and 105 points. This year he's playing at even better pace, matching McDavid step-for-step and thrusting the Oilers from Pacific afterthought to division leader. He has managed three goals and 10 points in eight games against Vegas.

While McDavid has been the best player in the league for years and Draisaitl's emergence is another step in his terrific career, the biggest surprise has been Edmonton's goaltending. Mikko Koskinen has been superb in the first year of a much-maligned contract extension, and newcomer Mike Smith, who will start against the Golden Knights, tonight, has bounced back from a dreadful season in Calgary to be part of an elite goaltending duo in Alberta's other NHL city.

"Their goaltending is really solid and that's a big difference for them," coach Gerard Gallant said.

Speaking of bounce-backs after bad years in Calgary, original Golden Knight James Neal is showing last year was a fluke with 13 goals so far with the Oilers. He ranks just behind McDavid and Draisaitl in most goal-scoring categories and has been particularly dangerous on the power play with nine of his 13 points.

Neal has helped the Oilers to a power-play percentage of 31.4, best in the league. It puts the impetus on the Golden Knights to stay out of the box and not let McDavid, Draisaitl and crew get time and space with the extra man.

"They've got an unbelievable power play (with) the way they move the puck and their talent and their skill," Gallant said. "That will give you a good chance to win if you stay out of the box against them."

TV: AT&T Sports Net (DirecTV 684, Cox 1313, CenturyLink 1760)

Radio: Fox Sports 1340 AM and 98.9 FM

Betting line: Golden Knights minus-190, Oilers plus-160; over/under: 6.5 (minus-115, minus-105)

Golden Knights (11-9-4, 26 points) (6-4-3 home), fourth place, Pacific Division; second place, Wild Card

Coach: Gerard Gallant (third season)

Points leader: William Karlsson (23)

Goals leaders: Reilly Smith, Mark Stone (10)

Assists leaders: William Karlsson (15)

Expected goalie: Marc-Andre Fleury (2.45 GAA, .922 save percentage)

Oilers (14-7-3, 31 points) (7-5-1 road), first place, Pacific Division;

Coach: Dave Tippett (first season)

Points leaders: Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid (44)

Goals leaders:Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid (16)

Assists leaders:Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid (28)

Expected goalie: Mike Smith (2.72 GAA, .910 save percentage)

Golden Knights projected lineup

Forwards

Jonathan Marchessault—William Karlsson—Reilly Smith

Max Pacioretty—Cody Eakin—Mark Stone

Alex Tuch—Paul Stastny—Cody Glass

William Carrier—Tomas Nosek—Ryan Reaves

Defensemen

Brayden McNabb—Nate Schmidt

Nicolas Hague—Shea Theodore

Nick Holden—Deryk Engelland

Goalies

Marc-Andre Fleury, Malcolm Subban

Justin Emerson can be reached at 702-259-8814 or [email protected]. Follow Justin on Twitter at twitter.com/@j15emerson.