LAS VEGAS -- The Vegas Golden Knights have no interest in a track-meet series against the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Second Round.
The Golden Knights, the top seed in the West, convened on Monday for their first practice since finding out they will play the Oilers, the second seed from the Pacific Division who advanced with a six-game ouster of the third-seeded Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.
Game 1 of the best-of-7 series is at T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday.
The practice had a high tempo and spirits amongst the players were good, with hooting and hollering, especially during a small-ice 2-on-2 drill, being omnipresent.
"That just comes from being around the guys, it is a fun time of year," Vegas forward Chandler Stephenson said. "It is nice to get that break. Guys are rested and feeling good, got good energy in practice. We try to have fun out there and keep things loose."
This was their second practice since eliminating the Winnipeg Jets in Game 5 of the Western Conference First Round here on Thursday. They are trying to get the right balance of rest and maintaining sharpness. They took off Friday and Sunday, practiced Saturday and Monday and will have a final practice Tuesday.
While it was fun and games on the ice, the preparation work has begun in earnest. Coaches are breaking down video, especially on the Edmonton power play, which is clicking at an NHL-best 56.3 percent. Systems are being implanted and relayed to the players.
And the main message is defense.
The Golden Knights know they have to put the breaks on the high-octane offense of the Oilers, which scored 25 goals in the six games against the Kings. At 4.17 goals per game, they are the most prolific team in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"If you are going to beat the Oilers, you have to find a way to slow them down," Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. "You have to find a way to score because you are never going to keep those guys off the scoresheet. That is the challenge in front of us."
In the first round against Winnipeg, Vegas allowed 14 goals in the five games, its 2.80 goals against a full goal lower than its goals for.
Take away the five goals allowed in a subpar Game 1 as well as the fact that Game 3 went double OT before Vegas took the 5-4 victory, and the numbers become even more impressive. The only goal by the Jets in Game 5 came after they pulled their goalie.
So, it is fair for Cassidy to say he believes his defense is hitting its stride, but the players know it will require another level of commitment to slow the transition game and keep Edmonton from attacking with speed.
"The best defense is when you have the puck and you are making the other team play defense," said Vegas forward Jack Eichel. "I think we have a good cycle game. We have a big group. I think we can wear players down.
"I thought there were times during that Winnipeg series where we did a good job, that we played in their end and, you know, made their offensive players play defense."
Winnipeg did not have the game-breakers which Edmonton possesses.
Forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, combined for 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) against the Kings. Draisaitl has seven goals, tied for the NHL lead with Mikko Rantanen of the Colorado Avalanche.
Evan Bouchard has 10 points (two goals, eights assists) to lead all defensemen in the playoffs. All but two of his points have come on the power play.
Sometimes McDavid and Draisaitl play together, as they did late in the first round. Other times, they are separated.
"We just have to make it hard," Stephenson said. "Time and space, be hard, that is the biggest thing."
The Oilers say they also want to be better in their own end; they don't want to have out-gun their mistakes.
They know, against a sound defensive team, they are going to have to better than mediocre on the defensive side.
"We want to limit their chances, limit their skill guys from doing what they do," McDavid said after practice in Los Angeles on Monday. "That's a focus of ours, and at the same time, we're comfortable playing any game.
"We want to impose our style against them, but it's a playoff series there are going to be lots of different things that happen."
It all begins Wednesday.
NHL.com staff writer Derek Van Diest contributed to this report
