How two minutes cost the Golden Knights Tuesday's game against the Edmonton Oilers

The Golden Knights saw their six-game winning streak go up in smoke with a 3-2 loss Tuesday to the Edmonton Oilers. Adin Hill did his best on his fourth straight start, but there’s so much that can be done when the offense goes to sleep for most of an entire period (more on that later). The winning streak had to end someday, even if it felt a little like the proverbial whoopee cushion. Here are my three takeaways from a squirting flower to the face of a night, save for one thing.

Seventh year in the playoffs in eight for Vegas

Thank you, Utah! It hasn’t really been in doubt for the Golden Knights for weeks, but still, it’s worth spreading a little cheer over. With eight games left, it’s the fastest team to clinch a playoff spot in Golden Knights’ history. Overall, only the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche, St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, and the New York Rangers could boast a similar consistency in their first eight years in the league. The way they got there left something to be desired.

Going into the postseason, there are injury questions regarding Tomas Hertl and Alex Pietrangelo that will grow with each passing round. But that’s a problem for later. Tonight, Vegas celebrates a hell of an accomplishment in the league. Also, the “could’ve been worse” news that Ilya Samsonov is only out day-to-day.

Horrible second period dooms the Golden Knights

It started with a hard thumper of a shot by Jake Walman 19 seconds into the period to tie the game 1-1. Then it grew to a point that Vegas could only manage two shot over the next 14 minutes, culminating in that calamitous last five minutes where they took two penalties in 17 seconds and fell into a two-goal hole. One of those goals somehow holding up on review, even though Arvidsson had the same technique you’d have unsticking a ketchup bottle with a knife.

Does it hurt that that goal ended up being the game winner? Absolutely. Getting outshot 11-4 in that period, I’d argue, hurt this team just as much on Tuesday.

Physicality missing for Vegas, especially in the third period

Even with the bad second period, Vegas made a strong charge to come back for the fourth straight game. But after the Pavel Dorofeyev goal made it 3-2, it seemed not enough to get the full two points. The reason? The multiple bodies for the Oilers, sprawling to absorb any shot coming their way. Nine of Edmonton’s 14 blocked shots came in that third period, three more than the Golden Knights had the entire game.

Vegas also had 12 hits for the game, compared to 30 for the Oilers. That is the fewest they’ve had in the last month since March 13 at Pittsburgh when they had 10. It’s a statline you’d rather hope stays an anomaly, especially with who’s coming up next.

Next on the Marquee:

The Winnipeg Jets arrive on Thursday night at 7 P.M., the third-to-last home game of the season. It’s also a rematch of the instant classic 3-2 comeback win on December 12 at Winnipeg, which you’d be forgiven for playing highlights of before going to sleep for a pick-me-up. Finding the aforementioned physicality before then would be more than handy for this team to continue marching to the Division title once again. A healthy Ilya Samsonov wouldn’t hurt either. Until then…