The NHL playoffs are an emotional rollercoaster. Euphoric wins and devastating losses are part of the process, and you can’t let either one carry into the next game.
The Oilers didn’t play up to their standards in the Game 3 loss. But they also lost with only 0.4 seconds remaining. They were milliseconds from being one shot away from leading the series 3-0. If teams or players let it, the emotions of the playoffs can overwhelm them, and the Oilers need to use that loss as motivation to rebound tonight.
They are still in a good position. They have a chance to take a commanding 3-1 series lead with a victory in Game 4 on Monday.
Edmonton controlled the majority of the first game, while Vegas has been the better team in the past two games. Edmonton hasn’t created as much as they’d like offensively in the past two games, and Kris Knoblauch will be making some lineup changes. Kasperi Kapanen and Troy Stecher will dress in place of Viktor Arvidsson and Ty Emberson. Those changes won’t alter the fate of the team, but both add a bit more speed. Vegas’ style is to keep you on the outside and not allow you inside. They thrive on limiting your time in the offensive zone.
In Game 1, the Oilers had extended shifts in the offensive zone. They played much quicker than they have in the past two games. I asked Knoblauch the best way to create more from the inside in Vegas.
“It is simplified — being quick,” said Knoblauch. “If you slow it down, they are able to get into position and they get to retreat to the net. It is about playing fast hockey. You can draw up plays, but the more you are scripting the more you are slowing the player’s reaction time. The game is all about playing quickly and capitalizing when they are out of position. We know their system and what we are trying to do, but we don’t want to overcomplicate it.”
Edmonton has the faster team, but Vegas didn’t allow them to use their speed often enough, especially on Saturday night.
“Their D are really standing up in the neutral zone and not allowing us to gain entry,” said Connor McDavid. “They got big D-men that break the puck up well and we’ve had a tough time sustaining some O-zone time, but I did like some of the looks we had last game and hopefully that is something to build on.”
I expect McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to centre their own lines tonight. Draisaitl wasn’t happy with his performance in Game 3 and usually he responds very well after a game where he isn’t happy with his play. He holds himself to a high standard, and having McDavid and Draisaitl on separate lines gives the Oilers more total ice time with a superstar on the ice.
Knoblauch reunited McDavid with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman last game and they had an 8-0 advantage in shot attempts and 2-0 in actual shots on goal in four minutes together. I expect they will start the game as a trio tonight. The other lines will likely feature some new combinations. The players are used to playing with different players at different times and it is important to know we will see different combos throughout each game.
Regardless of who is on the ice, the Oilers need to play faster, limit their turnovers (especially high in the offensive zone), and they need to get more bodies to the net. The Oilers’ PP has been quiet so far this series,s going 1-for-7. They did score on one of their two chances in Game 3, and I won’t be surprised to see them send another body inside at times tonight. Vegas really likes to protect the middle and “pack the house.” Don’t be surprised to see Edmonton send in another guy in tight at times. They’ve always shown an ability to adjust to what the PK is doing by making small, subtle tweaks.
Vegas adjusted to counter the Oilers’ attack in the past two games and limited their chances. Now it is up to the Oilers to counter and create more.
May 10, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Las Vegas Golden Knights celebrate their win against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period in game three of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images

SNAPSHOTS…

— Nazem Kadri holds the NHL record for the latest game winner. He scored with 0.1 second remaining when Colorado defeated St. Louis. That was in the 2020 bubble and was a “seeding game.” I don’t consider it a playoff game, since it was the only game they played against each other in those playoffs. For me, the actual record belongs to Jussi Jokinen when he scored with 0.2 seconds remaining to help Carolina defeat New Jersey 4-3 in Game 4 of round one. The Devils bounced back to win the next game, before Carolina won the final two games to win in seven. Reilly Smith’s goal on Saturday night with 0.4 seconds remaining is the only other game-winning goal scored in the final second of regulation.
Here’s a list of teams that’ve lost by allowing a goal in the final five seconds of regulation:
  • 2015 at 19:58. Montreal lost to Tampa Bay in G3 on a goal by Tyler Johnson. Rebounded and won G4 and G5 before losing the series in six games.
  • 2015 at 19:58. NY (Rangers) lost to Washington in G1 on a goal by Joel Ward. Won G2 and won the series in seven.
  • 1964 at 19:58. Detroit lost to Toronto in G1 as Bob Pulford scored. Won G2 but lost in seven games.
  • 1987 at 19:57. Philadelphia lost to NY (Islanders) in G2 when Mikko Makela scored. They rebounded and won G3 and G4 and won the series in seven games.
  • 2022 at 19:56. Florida lost to Tampa Bay in G2 on a Ross Colton goal. Lost G3 and were swept.
  • 2023 at 19:55. Carolina lost to Florida in G4 on a Matthew Tkachuk goal. Florida won the series in four games.
  • 1942 at 19:55. NY (Rangers) lost to Toronto in G6 on a goal by Nick Metz. Rangers lost the series in six.
The five previous times where a team allowed a goal in the final three seconds — they all rebounded to win the next games of the series. The Oilers will look to be the sixth team tonight.
— Corey Perry will tie Glenn Anderson for eighth-most playoff games played tonight at 225. Perry’s next playoff point (135) will move him ahead of Guy Lafleur, Brendan Shanahan and Joe Thornton for 44th all-time. McDavid might pass them first, though. McDavid has 133 career points and is one back of Perry. McDavid has only played 83 playoff games. Wild.
— The Oilers only had 20 shots on goal in Game 3. They only had two regular-season games with fewer shots on goal. Look for them to generate more tonight. The Oilers had periods with seven, seven and six shots on goal. Vegas never allowed the Oilers many second chances. The Oilers only had two situations where they had two shots in quick succession. The Vegas D did a great job of not forcing Adin Hill to make a rebound save.

LINEUPS…

Oilers

RNH – McDavid – Hyman
Kane – Draisaitl –Brown
Frederic– Janmark– Perry
Podkolzin – Henrique – Kapanen
Kulak – Bouchard
Nurse – Stecher
Walman – Klingberg
Skinner
The forward lines are my projection, they are not 100% correct. The Oilers often use different combinations in the game, but after seeing the success the 93-97-18 line had last game, I expect we will see them start together tonight. Knoblauch mentioned he wants the Oilers to play quicker — putting Brown with Draisaitl and Kane gives the second line some speed. Janmark has played well this series and he’s quicker than Henrique, so I slotted him there. Stecher moves the puck better than Emberson and is a bit quicker. I could see him playing more at 5×5 than Stecher.
We could also see Nurse play with Stecher and Brett Kulak play with Evan Bouchard. Again, we won’t know for sure until the pre-game skate.

Golden Knights

Barbashev – Eichel – Stone
Olofsson – Hertl – Dorofeyev
Howden – Karlsson – Smith
Pearson – Roy – Kolesar
Hague – Pietrangelo
McNabb – Theodore
Hanafin – Whitecloud
Hill
Based on his participation in every line rush and working with the first unit PP, it looks like Mark Stone will play. Brayden McNabb didn’t skate this morning, but he’s expected to play tonight. One change for Vegas is that Pavel Dorofeyev is back on the first unit PP in place of Victor Olofsson. Dorofeyev was on the top unit most of the season and finished second with 13 PP goals. They love setting him up for the one-timer on the right side. Edmonton has to be aware of that and have good sticks to disrupt the seam pass.

TONIGHT…

GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Oilers didn’t have a great bounce-back game after LA scored the game winner with 42 seconds remaining in Game 1. They lost 6-2 in Game 2. They have a much better effort tonight and rebound with a 4-2 win.
OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: McDavid scores his sixth multi-point game in 10 playoff games.
NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Kapanen picks up a point, which means all 14 forwards who have dressed in the playoffs will have at least one point.