On The Strip, a span of 85 seconds were was all it took for the Golden Knights to wrest control of Game 5 away from the visiting Edmonton Oilers and give them control.
Trailing 2-1 in the middle frame, Vegas scored twice off the power play and added an even strength goal to take a 4-2 lead.
Mark Stone struck on a 5-on-3 at 14:05 for a 2-2 tie.
Reilly Smith collected a marker off the ensuing one skater advantage for a 3-2 lead.
“In the playoffs, there are so many different momentum swings in the game,” Smith said. “The team who can handle them better and control them usually ends up on top. We did a better job tonight.”
Nicolas Hague then scored at 15:34 for the 4-2 advantage.
“We gave up two 5-on-5 goals in a similar manner. We had numerous chances 5-on-5 to convert,” Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft said. “In those games where we won in this series, we didn’t give up four or more goals. We did some good things tonight. In the end, that segment in the second period hobbled us and we weren’t able to get it done.”
The series goes back to Edmonton with the Golden Knights leading, 3-2.
Adin Hill made 32 saves in the Vegas win.
“[Adin Hill] obviously made some big saves. Our [defensemen] played great,” Vegas’ Jack Eichel said. “You start off [the third period] by killing a penalty against a good power play, I know we gave one up, but it was good that we got out of that while still having a lead. We still pushed forward. We had some shifts in their end where we were able to possess the puck. Things like that add up.”
Eichel had a goal in the opening stanza to tie the game, 1-1.
“We did a great job. We beared down and limited their chances. We had a great game for 60 minutes tonight,” Hill said. “It just shows how good we are. We’re a strong group. It doesn’t matter who’s on the ice. We can roll four lines with anyone.”
Connor McDavid hit for a double in the loss, his first staked the Oilers to a 1-0 lead.
Eichel tied it, and Zach Hyman scored in the first to send the game to the second period with the Oilers ahead, 2-1.
“Even though we lost the special teams battle three goals to two, in reality, in our minds, we won,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “That’s how we look at it. Our 5-on-5 game again was solid. We’ve been typically the better team for most of the games.”
McDavid added a strike in the third to trim the deficit to 4-3, but the Oilers could get to a tying goal.
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Stuart Skinner got the start for the Oilers, he surrendered four goals, and made 18 saves before getting the hook in the second period.
Jack Campbell made nine saves in
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