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Story by Alan Snel Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
Just the facts: Edmonton Oilers 5 Vegas Golden Knights 3
VGK goal scorers: Nic Roy, Nolan Patrick, Nic Hague
Storyline: Despite playing its third game in four days, Oilers had too much firepower with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl (2 goals) and Zach Hyman (2 goals)
Attendance: 17,978
Quote: “They’re an opportunistic team” — VGK coach Pete DeBoer
Record: Golden Knights are 1-3 with their third straight loss
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After one period, the Knights and Oilers were tied at one.
With Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty still out joined by injured Alec Martinez, the top line centered by Chandler Stephenson had wingers Nic Roy and Peyton Krebs. Roy scored the game’s first goal about 3 1/2 minutes into the contest when he deflected in a shot from the point by Zach Whitecloud.
The Oilers, looking sluggish early as they’re playing their third game in four days, countered with a power play goal by Zach Hyman, with Connor McDavid picking up an assist.
Some boos were heard as the Golden Knights failed at scoring with a 5-on-3 advantage with about three minutes left in the first period.
Winger Reilly Smith said the 5X3 was an “opportunity we didn’t capitalize on.”
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In period two, Nolan Patrick scored his first goal as a Knight when he deflected in a shot by Dylan Coghlan 1:25 into the period.
But then it was McDavid feeding Hyman who beat VGK netminder Robin Lehner with a nasty wrister and the game was tied at two nearly four minutes into the period.
And then, McDavid’s high-scoring buddy, Leon Draisaitl, fired home a goal from the right side to give the Oilers a 3-2 lead with about five minutes gone in the period.
Nic Hague blasted in a hot in the third period to knot the game at three.
But Zack Kassian broke in on Lehner and slipped a soft back-hander through the 5-hole and the Oilers had their 4-3 lead. An empty-netter ended the scoring and sealed the Oilers’ 5-3 win.
After the game, Smith told the media the Knights are turning over too many pucks in the neutral zone.
The Knights did pile up 39 shots, while the Oilers had 33.
Let’s check out the available game tickets before the game. They could be had for $25 a seat about an hour before the game on the VGK Ticket Exchange site.
The Golden Knights do not require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test from fans to attend VGK games at T-Mobile Arena. Instead, they want fans to comply with the state/county indoor mask mandate. Take a look at how the fans are complying.
Parting photo: Matt the flag guy throwing literal shade on these Edmonton Oilers fans on plaza before the game Friday.