Oilers’ Stunning Comeback in Game 1 Against Golden Knights
May 7, 2025, 01:25 AM ET
LAS VEGAS — In a thrilling display of resilience and skill, Zach Hyman delivered a clutch performance, scoring from just above the right circle with 3:02 left on the clock. This pivotal goal propelled the Edmonton Oilers to a 4-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 1 of their second-round series on Tuesday night. The Oilers, known for their tenacity, rallied once again this postseason, setting an NHL record with their fifth consecutive playoff comeback victory.
Edmonton’s defenseman John Klingberg shared insights into the team’s mindset, saying, “We’re a patient group, we’re a veteran team. The guys here have been playing a lot of playoffs throughout the years. They know what it takes. Just stick to our game, and take it game by game.”
Despite the loss, the Golden Knights have an impressive record, being 19-2 in home playoff games when leading after two periods. Overall, they are 47-4 in the postseason when holding a lead of at least two goals. However, this time, the Oilers had other plans.
Key players for the Oilers included Leon Draisaitl, who contributed a goal and an assist, and Corey Perry and Connor Brown, who each scored a goal. Evan Bouchard and Connor McDavid each had two assists, with McDavid now boasting four consecutive postseasons with at least 10 assists, ranking fourth best in league history. Goalie Calvin Pickard faced minimal pressure after the first period, finishing with 15 shots.
Hyman expressed the significance of the win, stating, “It gives you a great opportunity. You steal one in their rink, and now, you have a chance to take both. We haven’t been in that spot a lot. It’s nice to get the first one out of the way early.”
For the Golden Knights, Mark Stone was a standout, scoring both goals to tie Jonathan Marchessault‘s franchise record with 36 for his Vegas career. Stone’s performance also extended his goal-scoring streak to three games. Goalie Adin Hill made 24 saves.
The first period saw both teams’ top lines delivering, with Stone scoring twice, the first on a double-minor power play. Edmonton’s top unit responded, cutting the deficit in half with 3:34 left when Perry deked Hill for an open net, assisted by McDavid and Draisaitl.
Despite a scoreless second period, the Oilers dominated, outshooting Vegas 12-1. The Golden Knights had never been held to fewer than two shots on goal in a regulation playoff period.
Edmonton capitalized early in the third, tying the score just 57 seconds in when Draisaitl backhanded a shot off the boards and off Hill. Hyman, who had taken a stick to the face earlier in the shift from Kaedan Korczak, broke the tie in the closing minutes, and Brown sealed the win 1:16 later.
Perry reflected on the game, saying, “We were kind of all over the place in the first 10 minutes. But we found our footing, found our game. We started moving the puck, and making plays. And then, we played well defensively, and kept the puck out of our net.”
Vegas faced challenges with key players missing. Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo did not play due to illness, allowing Korczak to make his first career postseason start. The team was also without Pavel Dorofeyev, who led the team with 35 goals this season, for the second game in a row due to an undisclosed injury. Coach Bruce Cassidy described him as day to day.
Looking ahead, Game 2 is set for Thursday night in Las Vegas, promising another exciting chapter in this playoff series.
- Edmonton Oilers: 4
- Vegas Golden Knights: 2
- Game 2: Thursday night in Las Vegas
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Originally Written by: ESPN.com
