After a crazy defeat, the Edmonton Oilers look to salvage a split on home ice against the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday night.
The Golden Knights were in desperate need of a win as they went on the road for the first time against the Oilers…and they won in one of the strangest ways.
Early on, it looked like the Golden Knights were going to be run out of Rogers Place. The Oilers rode the energy off the home crowd to build a nice lead. Corey Perry, placed on a line with captain Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, opened the scoring several minutes into the first.
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The 39-year-old doubled down just a few minutes later, putting one in on the man advantage for his fifth goal of the playoffs, becoming the oldest player in Oilers history to post a multi-goal in the postseason.
However, Vegas was able to respond. Nicolas Roy and Reilly Smith scored just 54 seconds apart late in the frame to level the score at two heading into the second.
With a renewed sense of confidence, the Golden Knights started to play their game against Edmonton, taking the lead late in the second period with William Karlsson scoring his third of the playoffs.
It looked like Vegas was going to skate to a victory as the team’s defense and goaltender Adin Hill were doing their part in keeping the Oilers’ top scorers at bay. That was until a lucky bounce gave McDavid his third of the playoffs to tie the game with just over three minutes remaining in regulation.
The game was heading to overtime. However, an innocent-looking forecheck from Karlsson led to Smith getting the puck with just a couple of seconds left. Smith was able to slide the puck by Oilers netminder Stuart Skinner, deflecting off Draisaitl and into the net.
Though the goal was initially waved off, a quick review showed that the puck crossed the line with 0.4 seconds left, giving the Golden Knights a 4-3 win and cutting Edmonton’s lead in the series to 2-1.
PACIFIC DIVISION FINAL
(1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers (Oilers lead, 2-1)
When: Monday, May 12
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
Where: Rogers Place (Edmonton, Alberta)
Channel: TNT, truTV