A Look at the Only Playoff Series Between the Golden Knights and the Oilers

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Remember when the Vegas Golden Knights faced off against the Edmonton Oilers in the playoffs last season? How would the deep Knights roster contain Connor McDavid and company? Would they take away the water he supposedly walked on? These were questions commonly asked by the experts and pundits.

It was much simpler than that, with Vegas emerging on top by a count of four games to two. Led by eventual Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Marchessault, the Golden Knights put the idea of Edmonton being better than everyone else to rest.

It's no secret that Connor McDavid will have all eyes on him, especially with the bigwigs at the likes of ESPN. That attention will shift to the superstar once more, as the Edmonton Oilers make their way to Sin City on Tuesday. While there will be a returning William Karlsson, the focus will be on whether Edmonton can stretch their winning streak to 17 games.

With that, it's important to look at how the Golden Knights beat the Oilers last season. What stood out in last season's postsason confrontation? How can the defending champs repeat their performance against arguably their biggest rival?

1. The Second to Fourth Lines Must Win Their Battles

Nashville Predators v Edmonton Oilers / Lawrence Scott/GettyImages

It's no secret that the Edmonton Oilers have the best first line in the NHL. Having McDavid and Leon Draisaitl alone gives you that distinction. Therefore, the Golden Knights must be willing to limit the damage done by Edmonton's top crew.

How Vegas defeated Edmonton last season was by winning the battle of the other lines. Starting with the second and moving down, Bruce Cassidy must shift his efforts to having his lower nine score often. That includes a red-hot Nic Roy and the likes of Keegan Kolesar (who's done well on the fourth line, mind you).

If the line depth shines again, specifically with Karlsson's return, Vegas will emerge on top in this key Pacific Division matchup. With their depth shining through, it goes a long way in preserving the Knights's spot in the division.

2. Stay Out of the Penalty Box

New York Rangers v Vegas Golden Knights / Ethan Miller/GettyImages

While Vegas has done a great job of not drawing penalties (tied for seventh in the NHL with 171), the Edmonton Oilers have the fourth-best power play in the league (27.1). With Edmonton scoring nine power play goals in last season's matchup, avoiding the sin bin would be wise.

Looking back at that series, McDavid and Draisaitl accounted for two-thirds of those power play goals. Not letting their emotions get the best of them is key for the Golden Knights in this matchup. Otherwise, the Oilers will be on their way to No. 17.

3. Put the Pressure on Stuart Skinner

In last season's matchup, Stuart Skinner was overwhelmed by the Golden Knights's scoring depth. He allowed 19 goals in six games and had a save percentage of .875. Part of using your offensive depth beyond the first line goes to putting the heat on the Oilers' goalie.

If the Knights can maximize their scoring opportunities, they can overwhelm the goaltender again. That's done by using quick shots and creating problems in front of the net, using big bodies to take away his vision and reaction time.

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Edmonton Oilers. 29-15-6. 942. VGK -110. 7:00 PM PST. 148. ESPN+/Hulu. February 6, 2024. 29-15-1

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A Look Back at the Only Playoff Series Between the Golden Knights and the Oilers

1. The Second to Fourth Lines Must Win Their Battles

2. Stay Out of the Penalty Box

3. Put the Pressure on Stuart Skinner

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