In his first round of the Western Conference, Edmonton Oiles, after gathering 2-0 open to eliminate the Kings of Los Angeles, went to Las Vegas to get the Pacific Champion Vegas Golden Knights in seven series.
Western conference heavy weights came together for the second time in Stanley Cup playoffs.
Two seasons ago, Vegas followed 2-1 in Key Game 5 in Edmonton. The Golden Knights eliminated Oilers in six games in the second round series on the way to win the 2023 Stanley Cup.
It is safe to say that the loss of playoff is still stinging for Edmonton.
Oilers, Mattias Janment, “Last year, we got into us, and now we have a chance to revenge.” He said.
“They beat us and they continued to win the cup,” Zach Hyman added. “We certainly want to work. Different teams, different players, but the same core.”
Kris Knoblauch was coaching Hartford in the American Hockey League when the two teams met in the playoffs. Knoblauch then replaced Jay WoodCroft on November 12, 2023 and coached Edmonton to the Stanley Cup final last season and lost 2-1 to Florida Panthers at Oiles' Game 7.
“I see a group of men who are motivated, no matter who the opponent is.” He said. “Maybe there was a hatred (towards Vegas), I don't know, but whoever played it, I would think that the children would be within the same mind now.”
2024 Conn Smythe Trophy champion Edmonton Star Center Connor McDavid, the MVP of the Playoffs, said that he was looking forward to confrontation with Vegas.
“It is hard to always lose when you feel that you have a good team in playoffs,” McDavid said. He said. “They are a great team and just a few years ago.
28 -year -old McDavid, Hart Memorial Trophy won three times the league MVP and five times the league champion. Leon Draisaitl, who leads the league with 52 goals this season and won Hart Trophy for the 2019-20 campaign, will be the focus of a third gold knight defense to allow only 2.61 goals per game.
Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said with a smile, “I think it's fun to watch together on ice.” “You should make sure that your ducks are on top of each other and how they want to defend. This is the biggest challenge. A small shift and going.”
“We'll have to take into account the two of the best players in our game, and we'll have to take into account them when they're in the ice.” “They do too much damage.”
McDavid, who has 100 points (26 goals, 74 assists) this season this season, has 128 career playoff points (39 goals, 89 assists) in 80 matches.
The Golden Knights won a six -game victory against Minnesota Wild in the first round series and won the last three games with a goal, including more overtime.
Eichel (one goal, four assists) and his headquarters Tomas Hertl (three goals, two assists) directed Vegas with five points in the series. Goaldender Adin Hill went 4-2 with an average of 2.83 goals and a percentage of savings.
Eichel, “We wanted to try Defense and try to win (wild).” He said. “As the series continues, we made them even more difficult. Only one ton of credit to the group finds a way to win, and at the end of the day, this is important at this time of the year.”
-FELD level media
