The Vegas Golden Knights are set to face off against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of the Western Conference Second Round at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday night. This matchup marks a continuation of the rivalry that heated up two seasons ago when both teams clashed in the same round, resulting in a thrilling series that saw the Golden Knights advance and ultimately capture their first Stanley Cup.
Both teams come into this series as strong contenders, with the Golden Knights having secured the Pacific Division title while the Oilers showcase two of the league’s premier forwards, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Edmonton, which narrowly missed out on winning the Cup last season after pushing the Florida Panthers to a seven-game Final, has shown resilience in the playoffs, winning four consecutive games after falling behind in their first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings.
The stakes are high for Game 1; winning it is critical as teams that take the lead in a best-of-7 series have a significant advantage. Historically, those who win the opening game of a playoff series have a winning percentage of 68.1%, improving to 75.1% when the home team prevails.
As both teams gear up for this matchup, both players and coaches recognize the historical context. Adin Hill, the Golden Knights’ goalie, acknowledges the intense feelings from their previous encounters. Meanwhile, Oilers forward Evander Kane emphasizes the importance of starting strong and avoiding a deficit early in the series against a competitive team like Vegas.
On the injury front, the Oilers appear to be healthy and have found a productive line combination featuring McDavid and Draisaitl. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights are monitoring Pavel Dorofeyev’s condition, as he remains day-to-day after a recent injury.
Fans can anticipate an exciting and competitive Game 1, with both teams eager to set the tone for the remainder of the series. This matchup promises high intensity and skill as they vie for a chance to move forward in the playoffs.