Oilers respond, ease past Golden Knights in Game 4

EDMONTON --Stuart Skinner made 25 saves for the Edmonton Oilers in a 4-1 win against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 4 of the Western Conference Second Round at Rogers Place on Wednesday.

Skinner's performance came two days after he was pulled in the second period of a 5-1 loss in Game 3.

"He bounced back. That's what he does," Oilers captain Connor McDavid said. "I am sure he wanted to play a better game in Game 3, like we all did, and I thought he played really, really well tonight."

The best-of-7 series is tied 2-2. Game 5 will be in Las Vegas on Friday.

"It felt good. It was a huge win by the group and that is the most important thing," Skinner said. "Just the way the guys battled tonight was impressive. You always have to show up the next day and keep on working.

"I am going to keep on growing and learn from my mistakes from tonight as well and just move forward and get better tomorrow."

RELATED: [Complete Golden Knights vs. Oilers series coverage]

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a goal and an assist, and McDavid had two assists for the Oilers, who are the No. 2 seed from the Pacific Division.

"It is the playoffs," said McDavid, the Edmonton captain. "You get down one and that sense of urgency goes way up. It is always disappointing when you lose in the playoffs. It feels not very good. You are used to bringing your best. I expect them to play a really good Game 5 and I expect us to bring our best, too.

"We have to put two together here."

Nicolas Roy scored, and Adin Hill made 29 saves in his first start since March 7 for the Golden Knights, who are the top seed from the West.

"I thought tonight was going to be one of those nights where you need your team to be on … no passengers," Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. "And I thought some guys were off and we were relying on the goalie to get that big save.

"He hasn't played a lot of hockey, so a little bit unfair for Adin. We didn't get it (and) now they've got life, that's how it played out."

Nick Bjugstad gave Edmonton a 1-0 lead at 6:46 of the first period, scoring with his backhand on a wraparound after he forced a turnover by Shea Theodore.

Evan Bouchard made it 2-0 at 7:38 with a one-timer from the top of the right face-off circle off a pass from McDavid on a power play.

Mattias Ekholm pushed it to 3-0 at 13:30 with a slap shot glove side from the left circle off a cross-ice pass from Leon Draisaitl. Ekholm's goal came shortly after Skinner stopped Mark Stone from point-blank range.

"They didn't have a good game in Game 3. They came out hard," Stone said. "The first five minutes was actually pretty good by us, we had a good power play. We've just been giving up the first goal every game here. We've got to find a way to get a better start."

Nugent-Hopkins scored his first of the playoffs to put Edmonton ahead 4-0 at 14:45 of the second period. He received a pass from McDavid in the slot and beat Hill blocker side with a shot between the legs of Alex Pietrangelo.

"Obviously, happy to give them something to cheer about tonight, but it's long from over and we have to keep moving on," Nugent-Hopkins said. "I'm happy to get one, but more so just happy to contribute big for us."

Roy made it 4-1 at 5:58 of the third period. He got knocked down by a cross-check from Draisaitl near the blue line, got up, received a pass from William Carrier, and lifted a shot over Skinner's glove from in tight.

"Big win for our group. It's a best-of-3 from now on," Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft said. "We believe in playing the game hard whistle to whistle, finishing your check hard in a legal fashion, and when you do that, you wear teams down and you create frustration.

"It was a good game plan tonight and guys followed it to a T."

NOTES:Pietrangelo was assessed a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for slashing Draisaitl at 18:33 of the third. ... Edmonton has scored first in each game of the series. … It was Skinner's fifth win of the postseason, tying Andy Moog (1981) for the most by a rookie goalie in Oilers history. ... Hill made his first career Stanley Cup Playoff start.