FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Oilers - Game 5 - 2023

FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Oilers – Game 5 – 2023

Franchise Sports Media

Vegas Golden Knights (7-3) vs Edmonton Oilers (6-5)

 

The Vegas Golden Knights hold off the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 and are now one win away from advancing to the Western Conference Finals.

It is game 5 of the Golden Knights vs Oilers series. 

The Edmonton Oilers went into Sin City with the momentum from their Game 4 win and looking to take the lead in the series. Still, the Vegas Golden Knights said otherwise as they secured a 4-3 victory over the Oilers at T-Mobile Arena.

Superstar Jack Eichel had three points (1 goal and two assists), but it was a team effort last night. Jonathan Marchessault had three assists, and Mark Stone, Nicolas Hague, and Reilly Smith each scored a goal. Vegas goaltender Adin Hill finished the night with 32 saves.

“[Adin Hill] obviously made some big saves. Our [defensemen] played great,” Eichel said. “You start off [the third period] by killing a penalty against a good power play. I know we gave one up, but it was good that we got out of that while still having a lead. We still pushed forward. We had some shifts in their end where we were able to possess the puck. Things like that add up.”

Vegas went into Game 5 shorthanded due to Alex Pietrangelo being suspended from a slashing call in Game 4. The suspension did not stop the Golden Knights from staying focused on the task at hand.

The Golden Knights are now leading 3-2 in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, which puts the Oilers on the brink of elimination. Vegas is one win away from advancing to the Western Conference Finals for the third time in their short franchise history.

“We did a great job. We beared down and limited their chances. We had a great game for 60 minutes tonight,” Hill said. “It just shows how good we are. We’re a strong group. It doesn’t matter who’s on the ice. We can roll four lines with anyone.”

The Edmonton Oilers played well and almost held on throughout the game. They even led the first two periods until they suffered two penalties in the second period, which was the game’s turning point.

“We gave up two 5-on-5 goals in a similar manner. We had numerous chances 5-on-5 to convert,” Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft said. “In those games where we won in this series, we didn’t give up four or more goals. We did some good things tonight. In the end, that segment in the second period hobbled us, and we weren’t able to get it done.”

Connor McDavid scored twice, and Zach Hyman scored a goal and had one assist. Edmonton goaltender Stuart Skinner allowed four goals on 22 shots before being pulled in the second period. Backup goaltender Jack Campbell made nine saves in relief for Skinner.

End of the first period in the Golden Knights vs Oilers series

Both teams traded a goal in the first period, but the Oilers answered back to take a 2-1 lead.  

The start of periods 2 and 3 in the Golden Knights vs Oilers series.

The Oilers held the game’s momentum with a 2-1 lead, but that all changed in the second period.

Vegas was on a 5-on-3 power play that resulted in two goals for Vegas. The first power-play goal was from Mark Stone after shooting a wrap shot to tie the game 2-2.

But the power play was still not over yet. Just 29 seconds later, Reilly Smith scored to take the lead 3-2 for the first time in the game.

The one-goal lead for the Golden Knights was not enough as Nicolas Hague extended the lead to 4-2 after firing a shot from the left point. The three goals from Vegas were the fastest in a playoff game in Vegas‘ six-year history.

“In the playoffs, there are so many different momentum swings in the game,” Smith said. “The team who can handle them better and control them usually ends up on top. We did a better job tonight.”

Vegas was holding on to a two-goal lead throughout the third period, but with a minute left, Keegan Kolesar got a five-minute boarding penalty and a game misconduct. The penalty resulted in Connor McDavid scoring to cut the deficit to one goal, 4-3.

The game was once again close with over two minutes left in the third period but with the help of Adin Hill, the Golden Knights held on to prevail for a 4-3 win.

“That’s the difference in the game,” Hill said. “You give two there, and it’s a tie game, and who knows what happens from there? Our guys did a great job bearing down.”

The final score in game 5 of the Golden Knights vs Oilers series was 4-3, Vegas.

On Sunday, the Golden Knights will play the Edmonton Oilers in Game Six of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place. The puck drop time is TBA. The game can be seen on AT&T SportsNet (channel 313 on Cox Cable) or heard on 98.9 FM, FOX Sports Las Vegas 1340 AM.