How the Vegas Golden Knights should tackle the Edmonton Oilers this season
The Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers have developed a bit of a rivalry in recent years. How can Vegas tackle Edmonton this season?
Do you ever just look at someone and develop a sheer disdain for them? Like, looking at them gives you an urge to punch them in the face? It gets to the point where seeing their face in public makes you react like this. That's the type of rivalry the Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers have developed in recent years.
The two teams have shared some noteworthy moments in the feud, whether it's Evander Kane blowing kisses to the Golden Knights crowd or Alex Pietrangelo slashing Leon Draisaitl. The two teams haven't liked each other recently, making for a juicy rivalry in the NHL. On top of that, it's Connor McDavid vs. Jack Eichel, a battle of two of the best players in the league.
This feud also contains the last two Western Conference champions, with both teams facing off against the Florida Panthers. While the Golden Knights defeated the Panthers in their matchup in five games, the Oilers fell in seven games, falling short of an incredible comeback. While these two franchises don't like each other much, they have more in common than they realize.
So how can the Golden Knights capitalize on the differences to get the best of their hated rivals? What are the Oilers good at that Vegas must watch for? Everyone loves a good battle between two heated opponents, including Ohio State vs. Michigan and the Toronto Maple Leafs vs. the Montreal Canadiens. Here's what the Golden Knights must do to topple their bitter foes.
What makes Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers dangerous
It's no secret the Edmonton Oilers have one of the most potent offenses in the NHL. That's mainly because of their top six, which contains behemoths like Connor McDavid and the recently extended Draisaitl. But other players make the unit whole, including Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (18 goals and 67 points in 2023-24) and Zach Hyman (54 goals in 2023-24). They also added Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson to bolster the overall scoring, making them a death machine.
That offensive strength will translate well on the power play, where the unit has held a percentage of 29.5 in the past two seasons. The Vegas Golden Knights could only dream of this, considering the franchise has struggled historically in this regard. However, Vegas took the fewest penalties in that same period with 491.
The point? Playing smart hockey is paramount to beating the Oilers. If the Golden Knights give Draisaitl and company fewer opportunities to play at an advantage, life will become easier. By forcing Edmonton into making mistakes and turnovers, Vegas will have the upper hand every time the two teams play. On the note of playing at an advantage...
Jack Eichel and the Vegas Golden Knights shouldn't expect to beat the Oilers top six group
Yes, you read that right. The Vegas Golden Knights shouldn't expect to beat the Edmonton Oilers regarding the top six groups. As much as Jack Eichel and company can try to match Connor McDavid and his motley crew, the best they can do is match them. That's not bad considering McDavid is the best hockey player in the world and has the best sidekick in Leon Draisaitl. However, the war can be won on the lower lines.
That's where William Karlsson and his group come in. The Golden Knights have a solid bottom six group that features Karlsson and Nicolas Roy. The two round out a strong lineup in the middle, giving Vegas more balance and depth. There's also promising young stars like Alexander Holtz that give the Golden Knights a scoring touch.
While the Oilers are far more dangerous in their top six units, the Golden Knights carry more balance in their lineup and can show it. It doesn't matter if it's the defensive pairings or the fourth line. The other groups must win their respective battles to give Vegas a fighting chance. That means fighting for every puck and suffocating Edmonton on shooting lanes and scoring opportunities.
Will the Edmonton Oilers be a challenge for the Vegas Golden Knights?
Yes, based on Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl alone. The duo are two of the best hockey players in the world and they're playing on the same team. That alone should cause the Vegas Golden Knights problems. The Edmonton Oilers also have reliable scoring options in Hyman and Nugent-Hopkins, giving them the best top six group in the NHL.
But that doesn't mean there isn't a viable path to beating the Oilers. Edmonton has gotten slower in the offseason, which could present an opportunity for the Golden Knights. Vegas also has a balanced lineup despite losing numerous forwards in free agency and has a more defensive structure on the forecheck. They should play off that strength and attack Stuart Skinner whenever they can.
Whatever the case, a rivalry brings out the best in both parties. Vegas and Edmonton play competitive hockey every time they meet up, providing a fireworks show for the NHL universe. This season will be no different, with more kisses being blown to opposing fans and chirping between both benches.
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