NHL Game of the Week: Vegas Golden Knights vs. Edmonton Oilers

Story posted November 19, 2022 in CommRadio, Sports by Adrianna Gallucci

The Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights will meet for the Game of the Week on Nov. 19 at Rogers Place in a Pacific Division matchup.

Edmonton Oilers (9-8-0, 4th in Pacific Division)

The Oilers have been battling since the beginning of the season and are looking to conquer more ground in the division.

Connor McDavid has been having a great season, leading the team in goals (15) and points (32), as well as power-play goals and power-play points. Additionally, he leads the league in goals and points. McDavid also played in his 500th game on Nov. 14 when the Oilers faced the Washington Capitals.

Leon Draisatil leads the team in assists (19) and follows McDavid in second for goals and points. He is also tied with San Jose’s Erik Karlsson for second in points.

Jack Campbell and Stuart Skinner have relatively split their duties in the net, but Skinner has had the most success this season, entering the weekend with the third-highest save percentage in the league (.932).

The Oilers will be playing without Evander Kane, who was cut by a skate in Tampa Bay. There hasn’t been a timetable posted for his return after emergency surgery.

The Oilers are attempting to break a three-game losing streak at home, previously being defeated by the Los Angeles Kings, Dallas Stars and New Jersey Devils.

Vegas Golden Knights (14-4-0, 1st in Pacific Division)

The Golden Knights have won their last six games on the road and are looking to make seven in Edmonton.

They’ve been on a roll in Pacific Division play, only losing to the Calgary Flames and San Jose Sharks, which also total half of their total losses thus far in the season.

Jack Eichel leads the team in goals (10) and points (21), and, while he might’ve been booed a week ago in Buffalo, is an influential part of the Vegas success story of the season.

Alex Pietrangelo fronts in assists with 15 and power play points with seven.

Logan Thompson has been the starting goalie for Vegas and has the second-most wins in the league with nine in 12 games played. However, backup goalie Adin Hill has also posted strong and similar numbers, proving that one out of the two is going to be a brick wall for the Edmonton lines.

Phil Kessel also broke the Ironman streak earlier in the season, marking the most consecutive games played in the league.

The Matchup

The Oilers are looking to make a comeback after hard losses at home, and the Golden Knights want to move four games ahead in first place.

Both teams’ first lines are strong thanks to their centers, McDavid and Eichel, but it will come down to a test between goaltenders.

Adrianna Gallucci is a first-year student majoring in journalism. To contact her, please email amg7989@psu.edu.