As much as every game is a big one for the Edmonton Oilers right now, Saturday’s matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights was massive. Not only did the Oilers have the opportunity to take sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division, but they were also looking to avoid giving Vegas the chance to pull themselves back to within striking distance. And with both teams heading into Rogers Place riding win streaks, I expected both clubs to hit the ice with playoff intensity. Unfortunately, it was Vegas who seemed to get the memo that this was a big night because they were far and away the better team, locking in the victory long before the buzzer sounded with a 5-1 final score.

As much as being down by one after 20 minutes isn’t the biggest hurdle in the world, it’s fair to say that wasn’t the start the Oilers would have wanted. Despite playing well for most of the frame, a costly mistake by Vasily Podkolzin in the offensive zone was all Vegas needed to open the scoring. With margins as tight as they are in a game like this, the result was always likely to swing toward whichever team managed the puck better. While it was only one mistake that really stood out, it was also a perfect example of how quickly things can go sideways if you’re not careful. Unfortunately, things didn’t get much better in the second and third periods.

Instead of pushing the pace after falling behind, the Oilers struggled to string passes together for much of the second period, let alone build any sustained time in the offensive zone. As much as it’s cliché to say the ice was tilted, it took until nearly the midway point of the middle frame before Edmonton even registered a shot on goal. By then, the Golden Knights had already extended their lead and were on the verge of putting the game out of reach. Sure, the Oilers tried to make it interesting by cutting the deficit to two, but by that point it was too little, too late. The game was over. Given how important this matchup was for both sides, it’s hard to describe how frustrating it was to see Edmonton wait until they were down three to find their legs. This was a major missed opportunity, and it started with not being ready to play.

The math on Saturday couldn’t have been simpler. A regulation win for Edmonton would put the Oilers in sole possession of first place in the Pacific and five points up on Vegas, while a regulation loss would pull the Golden Knights to within a single point. Needless to say, the stakes were massive. So to have the Oilers show up as poorly as they did in a game this big was almost unforgivable. I know they didn’t have Leon Draisaitl or Zach Hyman in the lineup, but you would have thought the boys could get themselves up for it. I mean, if you can’t get fired up to play with the division on the line, then what will it take?

Either way, the Oilers missed their first chance to grab the division lead while also letting the wolf that is Vegas into the hen house at the top of the Pacific. Instead of putting themselves five points up on the Golden Knights, the boys now find themselves sitting only a single point ahead. That’s not nearly as fun as the daylight we were all hoping to see when Saturday’s game was all said and done. Instead, the Oilers were clearly the second-best team, lacked urgency throughout the night, and ultimately got the result they deserved. The only bright side was that Anaheim lost in Calgary, keeping Edmonton tied for the division lead with five games to go. Not exactly the time for steps backward, you know?

No matter what happens this season, Evan Bouchard has to be one of the best stories to come out of Edmonton. With the goal he scored at the end of the second period, Bouchard has now amassed an incredible 21 goals and 67 assists for 88 points to go along with 28 PIMs and a +22 rating. For as much shit as he takes for mistakes in the defensive zone, no on with two brain cells to rub together can say much about what he does at the other end. Even s0, I still think the struggles people like to focus on with Bouchard are greatly outweighed by the good things he does on a nightly basis. And that’s what makes me so happy to see that people are finally starting to notice that he certainly belongs in conversations with the league’s best.

Even though I doubt Bouchard wins the Norris Trophy in the end — it seems like people out East don’t even watch the Oilers play — hearing his name in the conversation is very well deserved. You don’t put up numbers like that from the back end without being one of the best at what you do, and the impact he has on this team every night is impossible to ignore. Night after night, Dad is out there driving offence, running the power play, and finding ways to make a difference when it matters most. It’s not just about the points either, it’s about how often he’s involved when something good is happening. Whether the rest of the league wants to admit it or not, the Oilers have a special player on their hands, and it’s about time more people started recognizing it.

Edmonton hockey fans — think you and your crew know playoff hockey? Prove it at the Nation Playoff Draft Party on Friday, April 17th at the River Cree Resort & Casino. Build your playoff roster, compete against other teams throughout the postseason, and battle for $2,500 cash and Nation bragging rights. Team entry is $1,000 for groups of 8, which includes dinner and your first bevy. The night will be hosted by Ryder & Lisa from The Sauce and Tyler & Liam from ON Everyday, so expect plenty of energy, competition, and chirps. Spots are limited — sign your team up now at nationgear.ca. All proceeds from the event support KidSport Edmonton, helping ensure local kids can stay in the game.