3 Keys: Oilers at Golden Knights, Game 1 of Western 2nd Round

McDavid, Draisaitl aim to keep Edmonton power play rolling; Stone looks to get defensive for Vegas

5-3 VGK EDM game 1 3 keys McDavid Draisaitl

By Shawn P. Roarke

@sroarke_nhl NHL.com Senior Director of Editorial

May 03, 2023

(2P) Oilers at (1P) Golden Knights

Western Conference Second Round, Game 1

9:30 p.m. ET; ESPN, CBC, SN, TVAS

LAS VEGAS --All eyes will be on Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers when they face the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 1 of the Western Conference Second Round at T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday.

More specifically, the eyes of the Golden Knights will be focused on the two top scorers in the NHL during the regular season as the teams start to familiarize themselves with each other in the opener of the best-of-7 series.

Draisaitl, the leading scorer this postseason, had 11 points (seven goals, four assists) in the six-game ouster of the Los Angeles Kings in the first round after having 128 points (52 goals, 76 assists) during the regular season. McDavid had 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in the first round after leading the League in scoring with an NHL career-high 153 points (64 goals, 89 assists) during the regular season.

After playing on separate lines for the first three games of the first round, McDavid and Draisaitl played together for the final three games with McDavid at center and Draisaitl at right wing. They are expected to be linemates again Wednesday, but also pick up extra shifts with the Oilers' 11-forward, seven-defensemen deployment.

"When they're together, you better be sure you know they're on the ice," Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said Wednesday. "And if your mindset is 'I'm going to check for the team on this shift,' hopefully your next two lines are going to have to outplay their next two."

But the Oilers did display additional depth is the first round, getting secondary scoring at key times.

The Golden Knights know they are not going to stop McDavid and Draisaitl completely; the goal is to limit them and take away the depth supplied by their teammates.

"We know that there's more to their team than Connor, but he's a huge part of their team, and so is Leon," Vegas center Jack Eichel said. "You need to know where they are on the ice and make it as hard on them as you can, knowing they're still going to get their opportunities because they're world-class players."

Here are 3 keys to Game 1:

1. Rolling Stone

Forward Mark Stone is in the lineup after leaving practice early yesterday.

"He will play," Cassidy said after Stone did not participate in an optional morning skate Wednesday.

Will the Golden Knights captain be limited in any way? He missed almost three months after undergoing back surgery in January. After a subpar Game 1 against the Winnipeg Jets in the first round, Stone was the best player in a five-game elimination of the Jets.

He is tied, with linemate Chandler Stephenson, for the Vegas scoring lead with eight points (three goals, five assists) and was plus-8 in the final four games against Winnipeg.

He is also one of their best defensive forwards and will play a huge role in the game plan against McDavid and Draisaitl. Vegas needs him to be 100 percent.

2. Be special

Edmonton is lethal on the power play, scoring on nine of 16 opportunities (56.3 percent) in the first round.

The Golden Knights struggled with special teams in the opening round, one of the few warts they displayed. Their penalty kill is at 58.3 percent in the playoffs, 15th among the 16 teams in the postseason. Their power play is at 18.8 percent (10th).

They have to be better this round.

"[The Oilers] has to get on the power play to fuel some of that offense," Cassidy said. "If it ends up being a 5-on-5 series, then it's a pick 'em, right? Everyone is saying they have a special-teams advantage. On paper, the numbers dictate that. We have to make sure we counter that whether that's being better at special teams or outplaying them 5-on-5."

3. Nerves in net

Each team is rolling with an untested goalie making his first appearance in the second round.

Laurent Brossoit had one relief appearance in the playoffs two years ago before winning the No. 1 job down the stretch this season.

The 30-year-old was 4-2 in the first round with a 2.42 goals-against average and .915 save percentage.

Stuart Skinner, a rookie, made his playoff debut in Game 1 against the Kings.

The 24-year-old is 3-2 with a 3.43 GAA and .890 save percentage. He was pulled following the first period in Game 4 against the Kings and replaced by Jack Campbell after allowing three goals on 11 shots in an eventual 5-4 overtime win.