Ladies and gentlemen, it's that time again. The Vegas Golden Knights will face off against the Edmonton Oilers in the second round. It won't be pretty and it certainly won't be friendly.
That's especially true if fans remember the tense matchups between these two teams in 2023. One can say this was where the rivalry started, complete with Evander Kane blowing kisses and middle fingers.
It's bound to be no different this season as the last two Western Conference champions square off once more. There are plenty of noteworthy headlines in this year's installment, too. Take your pick from the plethora of stories, whether it's Jack Eichel vs. Connor McDavid or Alex Pietrangelo vs. Leon Draisaitl.
Of course, the supporting casts are strong here as well. That includes Mark Stone, Zach Hyman, and more, making this the marquee matchup of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Who will win? Stay tuned because this will be a tense series with two hated rivals squaring off once more.
But we need some predictions to go with the party! We must also go bold and see where the series will head. Let's have a little fun and give out three bold predictions for the Golden Knights and Oilers series. After all, a rivalry this strong needs the bravest predictions!
1.) Mark Stone will have more than 10 points
In the last series, Mark Stone was nowhere to be found in the first three games. He didn't record his first point until Game 4's overtime victory. He's scored two goals and two assists in that span, indicating that the ol' Captain is back.
That has started with Stone shooting the puck more, where he's registered 11 shots in the last three games. His shooting percentage is 18.2% and he's becoming bolder with his shot selection.
Stone will serve a vital role in keeping the top forward units afloat against the Edmonton Oilers. Luckily for him, the Oilers don't forecheck as hard as the Minnesota Wild did, nor do they have Filip Gustavsson. That will serve as a springboard for success for the Captain, who will score more than 10 points.
2.) The series will NOT go to seven games
On paper, it seems like the Golden Knights and Oilers are evenly matched. The superstar power of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl is enough to equal Vegas's overall forward lineup. Plus, an Edmonton team on the power play is always lethal.
However, a case can be made for either side that the series won't go to seven games. For Edmonton, how do we know if this is a different Vegas Golden Knights team from the Minnesota Wild series? They had a rough time entering the offensive zone throughout that series, which could also happen here.
Then again, the Oilers are still not the Wild. They're older, move slower, and neither Calvin Pickard nor Stuart Skinner has been truly tested yet. The Golden Knights have more forward depth than the Los Angeles Kings did, along with a head coach who doesn't make dumb challenges for goaltender interference. Hockey fans should expect this series to last no more than six games.
3.) Brett Howden will continue his goal-scoring roll
Brett Howden had a solid showing in the last round against the Minnesota Wild. He scored three goals in that series, carrying over his regular season momentum (23 goals and 17 assists). The Calgary native will be vital in the second round against the Oilers.
Why? Because the Golden Knights need their lower lines to be efficient. On paper, Edmonton looks like a solid team. However, Vegas can exploit the matchup on the lower units and beat them in a grinding effort.
That starts with Howden, who is paramount to the unit's success. His speed and improved offensive skills will be a driving force for the group's production, where he drives his line to a potential series win.