The Edmonton Oilers have a 2-0 lead in their second-round series with the Vegas Golden Knights following back-to-back wins on the road.
After taking Game 1 by a score of 4-2, the Oilers edged out a 5-4 victory in overtime in Game 2 on Thursday. With five minutes left to play in the first overtime frame, Connor McDavid walked a Vegas defender at the blueline and fed a pass over to Leon Draisaitl, who buried the game-winner past a sprawling Adin Hill.
It was a classic goal from the McDrai connection, with the team’s top forwards finally breaking through after Edmonton had shots ring off the post and crossbar earlier in overtime. It also came on an opportunity that the Golden Knights felt the Oilers shouldn’t have had.
A few minutes before the winning goal was scored, Vegas defender Brayden McNabb fell awkwardly into the boards and left the game with an apparent injury. McNabb was racing with Edmonton winger Viktor Arvidsson for a loose puck and lost his footing with Arvidsson’s stick between his legs.
The Golden Knights expected a tripping penalty and were livid when neither of the referees lifted their arms to indicate a call. According to SinBin Vegas, captain Mark Stone skated right over to the referees after the OT goal and tapped his stick on the glass, indicating “this is on you.”
“(It’s) pretty clear it’s a penalty,” Stone told reporters after the game. “(Arvidsson’s) stick is between McNabb’s legs, he sends him head-first into the boards. Pretty clear-cut penalty in my eyes, and I think everybody’s eyes, right? But it’s hockey, you don’t always get the calls, but unfortunately now we might be down a D-man. We’ll see tomorrow. It’s a dirty play and we don’t get the call.”
Vegas head coach Bruce Cassidy was also frustrated by the missed call, telling reporters after the game that referee Gord Dwyer “blew it.”
“Listen, Gord (Dwyer) is looking at it. He blew it, he missed the call. I don’t know what else to say,” Cassidy said. “It’s a can-opener trip, it’s a dangerous play, it’s all those things. But it didn’t get called so you got to keep playing.”
McNabb appeared to be favouring his left arm as he came off the ice. Cassidy had no update on Thursday night about the defenceman’s status.
The series will now shift to Edmonton with Game 3 coming on Saturday night. The Oilers have an opportunity to put a stranglehold on this series with the Golden Knights.