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Vegas Golden Knights Vs. Edmonton Oilers Storylines

By Andrew Steele-Davis

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 25: Andreas Athanasiou #28 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates his goal with the bench to tie the game 3-3 with the Anaheim Ducks during the third period in a 4-3 overtime Ducks win at Honda Center on February 25, 2020 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 25: Andreas Athanasiou #28 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates his goal with the bench to tie the game 3-3 with the Anaheim Ducks during the third period in a 4-3 overtime Ducks win at Honda Center on February 25, 2020 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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The Vegas Golden Knights will be going for a season-high seven consecutive wins tonight when they take on the Edmonton Oilers at T-Mobile Arena.

It took a while but the Vegas Golden Knights have finally unlocked their potential, winning their last six and knocking off some elite teams in the ilk of the Tampa Bay Lightning, the St. Louis Blues and the Washington Capitals.

It has been quite some run by the Knights but they face their biggest test tonight against the Oilers, who will be looking to apply the pressure.

Despite losing in overtime to the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday, the Oilers are still two points behind the Golden Knights and they have played a game less.

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Therefore, tonight’s contest carries huge importance and it should be a mouthwatering Pacific Division matchup.

On that note, let’s delve into some storylines to keep an eye on between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Edmonton Oilers…

Storyline 1 – Back to Business

With the distraction of the NHL Trade Deadline now out of the way, the Vegas Golden Knights can now focus on what is important – the games.

After ripping off six straight, the Knights will be looking to keep the momentum going and they have the chance to send out a real statement tonight.

By beating the Edmonton Oilers the Golden Knights would tighten their grip on the Pacific, while keeping this winning streak intact.

It won’t be easy though given that the Oilers are a good hockey team in their own right, while they improved at the Deadline by trading for defenseman Mike Green and adding more firepower in Tyler Ennis and Andreas Athanasiou.

DETROIT, MICHIGAN – FEBRUARY 18: Nick Cousins #21 of the Montreal Canadiens loses control of the puck behind Trevor Daley #83 of the Detroit Red Wings during the first period at Little Caesars Arena on February 18, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – FEBRUARY 18: Nick Cousins #21 of the Montreal Canadiens loses control of the puck behind Trevor Daley #83 of the Detroit Red Wings during the first period at Little Caesars Arena on February 18, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Storyline 2 – Cousins Debut

Nick Cousins will make his Vegas Golden Knights debut tonight and the forward is set to play on the third-line with Chandler Stephenson and Nicolas Roy.

Cousins, who was acquired from the Montreal Canadiens for a 2021 Fourth-Round pick on Monday, is a real Swiss-Army Knife type of player and he will add a different dimension to the bottom-six.

Not only can he provide an offensive punch, but the 26-year-old also brings a certain amount of grit and jam to the lineup, and he will be hoping to make a good first impression at T-Mobile Arena.

However, Cousins has yet to skate with his new team after only arriving in Vegas today due to a visa issue, and that first game with a new team hurdle will be a tough one to overcome on this occasion.

And, Robin Lehner will have to wait for his Vegas Golden Knights debut with Marc-Andre Fleury set to get the start in goal.

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 25: Tyler Ennis #63 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates his goal with Adam Larsson #6 and Andreas Athanasiou #28, to trail 2-1 to the Anaheim Ducks, during the second period at Honda Center on February 25, 2020 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 25: Tyler Ennis #63 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates his goal with Adam Larsson #6 and Andreas Athanasiou #28, to trail 2-1 to the Anaheim Ducks, during the second period at Honda Center on February 25, 2020 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Storyline 3 – Need for Speed

The Edmonton Oilers were busy at the Trade Deadline and one of the shiny new toys they acquired was forward Andreas Athanasiou.

Athanasiou was traded from the Detroit Red Wings and the wing is an absolute speed demon in the NHL.

It is a scary enough thought trying to slow down Connor McDavid, and now the superstar has Athansiou on his line.

And the forward tallied a two-point night on his Oilers debut against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday, recording a goal and an assist.

McDavid needed another weapon and he has that in Athansiou, who should have more opportunity to succeed in Edmonton than he did in Detroit.

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 25: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers is knocked off balance by Ryan Getzlaf #15 of the Anaheim Ducks during the second period at Honda Center on February 25, 2020 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 25: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers is knocked off balance by Ryan Getzlaf #15 of the Anaheim Ducks during the second period at Honda Center on February 25, 2020 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Storyline 4 – Stop the train

If the Vegas Golden Knights are going to come out with a big W tonight, they must try to slow down Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

While they won’t be able to completely stop the dynamic duo, the Knights can try to stifle McDavid and Draisaitl.

Even that will be near impossible though given that both players are playing at the peak of their powers right now.

McDavid has one goal and five assists for six points in two games since returning from a quad injury, while he now has new toys in Andreas Athansiou and Tyler Ennis to help him further wreak havoc.

And then there is Draisaitl who is carving out an historic year with 37 goals and 62 assists for 99 points though 63 games.

Draisaitl could become the first 100-point scorer this season with one more point tonight, and he really makes the Oilers tick.

However, if the Golden Knights can shut down McDavid and Draisaitl, or at least stifle them somewhat, it will make life a whole lot easier.

dark. Next. How Lehner, Cousins impact the lineup

The stage is set for a mouthwatering showdown tonight and it could be a defining game in the race for the Pacific Division.

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