Golden Knights Render Three Goals To Edmonton In Decisive Second Period, Lose, 3-2, To Oilers Before Announced 18,335; VGK Clinch Playoff Spot For Seventh Time In Eight Years
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Story by Alan Snel Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — After six straight wins, the Vegas Golden Knights Tuesday faced the type of adversity they are bound to confront in the NHL playoffs.
After taking a 1-0 lead after one period on Nic Roy’s 12th goal of the season, the Vegas took a hit in the second period when division rival Edmonton Oilers turned the game around and scored three tallies to take a 3-1 into the final stanza.
The Golden Knights made it close with a goal by Pavel Dorofeyev in the third period. If Dorofeyev’s team-leading 32nd goal, one goal ahead of injured Tomas Hertl, who missed his fourth consecutive game.
But VGK could not tally the equalizer.
The Knights fell, 3-2, to the Edmonton Oilers and somehow the clinching of a Stanley Cup playoff spot thanks to a Calgary Flames loss was dampened by a six-game win streak snapped before a massive announced crowd of 18,335.
The Flames lost to the Utah Hockey Club, so that clinched a playoff berth for Vegas. It’s the seventh time in eight seasons that the VGK have qualified for a chance to win the NHL Stanley Cup.
“We will be happy we’re in, but that’s not our ultimate goal,” VGK coach Bruce Cassidy said during his postgame presser.
But Cassidy knew Edmonton’s second period did the Knights in.
“We didn’t play for 20 minutes in the second period,” Cassidy said. “You have to weather the storm against good teams. We didn’t get out of the second period well enough.”
The winning goalie was Calvin Pickard, an original VGK Misfit picked in the 2017 expansion draft.
The Oilers’ new defenseman, Jake Walman, blasted a nasty slapshot from the left side that beat VGK goalie Adin Hill a mere 19 seconds into the second period.
Goal-scoring machine Leon Draisaitl notched his 52nd goal on a 5-on-3 power play to give the Oilers a 2-1 lead.
Then, the Oilers’ Viktor Arvidsson scored a goal after the Knights and Hill thought the VGK goalie had covered the puck, believing the ref’s whistle should have been called.
But there was no whistle and Edmonton had a 3-1 lead after two periods.
The Knights outplayed Edmonton in period one, outshooting the Oilers, 10-4, but led only, 1-0, after one period. Vegas top scorer Jack Eichel hit the post in period one before Edmonton seized the momentum in period two.
The Knights may have lost the game, but the playoff tickets will be available. Season ticket holders will get a chance to buy playoff tickets and keep their seat, while single-game tickets will go on sale Friday at 10 AM.
Vegas faces another tough Canadian team from the Western Conference when Central Division leader Winnipeg (106 points) visits the Big Ice House by the Strip. The Jets were in Los Angeles tonight and lost to the Kings, 4-1.
VGK are 45-21-9 for 98 points, while the Kings are 42-23-9 for 93 points and the Oilers are 43-26-5 for 91 points.
The Knights have three home games left on a schedule that has eight games to go.
The Golden Knights released this statement about playoff tickets after the game:
There will be five different ticketing categories for Golden Knights home playoff games played at T-Mobile Arena.
- VGK Full Season Ticket Members will be automatically enrolled in the “Knights Vow,” which provides the most significant price savings off the single-game ticket price.
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- As part of the Knights Vow program, members will receive tickets electronically via AXS within 12-24 hours of each game played in the round.
- Resale through any secondary platform including the VGK Ticket Exchange – the Golden Knights’ exclusive, authorized secondary partner – is not permitted under this option.
- VGK Full Season Ticket Members may elect to opt out of the Knights Vow in order to have the opportunity to sell their tickets through the VGK Ticket Exchange. Their savings off the single-game ticket price under this option will not be as significant as those who are enrolled in the Knights Vow program.
- Please note that the VGK Ticket Exchange is the only authorized secondary partner. Resale through other secondary platforms is not permitted.
- VGK Partial Plan Members & Can’t Wait List Members
- Partial Plan Members will receive presale access to home playoff games through a full first-round strip or single-game tickets at a discounted price relative to single-game tickets beginning on Thursday, April 3 at 10 a.m. PT.
- Please note that partial members will be unable to transfer or re-sell tickets.
- New 2025-26 Season Ticket Members
- Fans who have purchased a season ticket membership beginning in the 2025-26 season will receive presale access to home playoff games through a full first-round strip or single-game tickets at a discounted price relative to single-game tickets beginning on Thursday, April 3 at 10 a.m. PT.
- Please note that new members will be unable to transfer or re-sell tickets.
- General Public
- All Golden Knights fans interested in purchasing single-game tickets will have the opportunity to select from a limited inventory beginning Friday, April 4 at 10 a.m. PT at vegasgoldenknights.com.
- Please note that single-game buyers will be unable to transfer or re-sell tickets.
