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3 takeaways from Knights' loss: Defense slips against Oilers

Ben Gotz, Las Vegas Review-Journal on

Published in Hockey

The truth became clear when Leon Draisaitl danced around Alec Martinez, flung a backhand pass past the outstretched stick of Keegan Kolesar and set up teammate Evander Kane for a tap-in goal.

The Golden Knights couldn’t stop the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena. It was a win when they forced the NHL’s No. 1 offense to even slow down.

The Oilers’ high-octane stars dazzled in a 7-4 romp in front of an announced crowd of 18,391. Left wing Ryan Nugent-Hopkins recorded five points before the second intermission. Center Connor McDavid finished with three points to close in on his fifth scoring title in eight seasons. Draisaitl, the NHL’s second-leading scorer, added two.

The defensive display was uncharacteristic for the Knights, who tied their season high for goals allowed. It cost them a chance to clinch a playoff spot with eight games left to go.

The Knights traded punches with the Oilers for a while. Their stamina just didn’t last as the blows kept coming.

The first period featured one of the most action-packed stretches of the season.

 

The Knights and Oilers combined for five goals in the game’s first 9:48. Draisaitl finished off the sequence by putting Edmonton up 3-2 with a power-play goal.

The Knights fired back when right wing Michael Amadio tied the game 3:13 into the second. The goal should have energized the group. Instead, it seemed to spark the Oilers.

Defenseman Darnell Nurse gave Edmonton the lead back 2:48 later by firing a one-timer from the left circle past goaltender Jonathan Quick. Kane’s goal extended the advantage, and right wing Zach Hyman stretched the lead to 6-3 by scoring on the power play with 4:26 left in the second.

Defenseman Brett Kulak added Edmonton’s seventh goal after hopping out of the penalty box 4:24 into the third period.

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