In Edmonton, the Oilers got secondary scoring, and Stuart Skinner made 25 saves in a 4-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 4 on Wednesday night.
The win evens the series at 2-2.
“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.”
Game 5 is set for The Strip on Friday.
Skinner had been given the hook in Game 3 after an iffy performance.
“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.”
Edmonton hit for three goals in the first period with Nick Bjugstad staking them to a 1-0 lead at 6:46.
“It is the playoffs,” the Oilers Connor McDavid said. “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.”
Just 52 seconds later, Evan Bouchard pushed the lead to 2-0 off the power play.
“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.”
Edmonton extended the advantage to 3-0 at 13:30 off a marker from Mattias Ekholm.
“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.”
In the middle frame, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored his first of the post season at 14:45 for a 4-0 lead to the Oilers.
“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.”
Vegas’ Nicolas Roy ended the shutout bid at 5:58 of the third for the 4-1 final.
Adin Hill made 29 saves in the loss.
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