The Edmonton Oilers (18-13-6) hosted the Vegas Golden Knights (16-8-10) on Sunday (Dec. 21). This was their first assembly of the season, and an enormous divisional contest, as these groups have been separated by simply two factors within the Pacific Division heading into this matchup, with Vegas having three video games in hand. The Oilers averted a third-period collapse to secure a 4-3 victory over the Golden Knights. Right here’s your recreation recap.
Recreation Recap
The Oilers opened the scoring 9:11 into the primary interval. Alec Regula’s stretch cross discovered Leon Draisaitl, and he handed to Connor McDavid off the push with pace. He drove laborious to the web and tucked the puck previous goaltender Carter Hart for his twenty third purpose of the season.
Then, the house staff prolonged its lead with a power-play marker 14:37 into the interval. Draisaitl discovered Ryan Nugent-Hopkins with the backdoor feed, and he tapped the puck previous Hart for his ninth of the marketing campaign. The Oilers took that lead into the intermission, holding a 12-7 shot benefit.
Associated: Projected Lineups for Golden Knights vs Oilers – 12/21/25
Edmonton added one other power-play purpose early within the second interval. Draisaitl’s cross ricocheted off Zach Hyman’s skate and landed on McDavid’s stick within the slot. He discovered Nugent-Hopkins beneath the best faceoff circle, and he one-timed the puck residence for his second of the competition. Edmonton continued to pour it on as Darnell Nurse handed to Hyman in entrance, and he went backhand, upstairs, for his ninth of the season to increase the lead.
Nevertheless, the Golden Knights obtained on the board with a power-play marker of their very own 12:59 into the center body. Tomas Hertl obtained Mitch Marner’s cross within the slot and ripped a shot blocker facet, upstairs, over goaltender Connor Ingram’s shoulder. The Oilers took that 4-1 lead into the second intermission, holding a slim 18-17 shot benefit.
Vegas minimize the lead in half with one other power-play purpose 3:52 within the ultimate body. The preliminary shot was stopped, however Pavel Dorofeyev pounced on the juicy rebound and buried it. Shortly after, the Golden Knights made it 4-3. Hertl’s backhand cross was redirected in tight by Marner for his seventh of the season.
Regardless of that third-period push, the Oilers held on for the win. Ingram stopped 26 of 27 pictures for an .897 save share (SV%) in his first win with the Oilers, whereas Hart stopped 17 of 21 pictures for an .810 SV% within the loss.
Each groups are again in motion on (Dec. 23) in opposition to a divisional opponent earlier than the vacation break. The Golden Knights host the San Jose Sharks, and the Oilers host the Calgary Flames. These groups meet once more on March 8 in Vegas. Maintain following The Hockey Writers for all of your NHL content material all through the season.
