Edmonton Oilers’ Third-Period Collapse Hands Vegas Golden Knights a 4-2 Victory

The Edmonton Oilers suffered a tough 4-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, blowing a third-period lead as they fell to their divisional rivals. It was a closely contested game in which the Oilers saw their one-goal advantage slip away late, with Vegas ultimately notching their first road win of the season. The duel between Canadian goaltenders Stuart Skinner and Adin Hill added an intriguing subplot, with both goalies vying for a chance to be Canada's starting netminder in the upcoming Four Nations Face-Off. However, it was Hill who edged out Skinner, stopping 27 of 29 shots for a stellar .931 save percentage, while Skinner recorded a respectable .912, making 31 saves on 34 shots.

The scoring began in the first period with Jack Eichel finding the back of the net for Vegas at 16:05, assisted by Shea Theodore and Ivan Barbashev. Eichel was able to beat Skinner on a breakaway to put the Golden Knights up 1-0. The Oilers answered back in the second period when Brett Kulak redirected a point shot from Darnell Nurse at 12:18, tying the game at 1-1. It was Kulak’s third goal of the season.

Just minutes later, Zach Hyman capitalized on a Vegas turnover with help from a nice bounce off the boards, scoring unassisted at 15:56 to give Edmonton a 2-1 lead. The Oilers appeared to have seized momentum, and with Skinner making key stops throughout the second and into the third, they looked set to secure the win.

However, things took a turn midway through the final frame. Edmonton's penalty kill faltered at 10:05 when Vegas’ Noah Hanifin scored on the power play, with a shot from the point. A goal that Skinner would like to have back. This power-play goal sparked a shift in energy, and Edmonton began to falter defensively, leaving space for the Golden Knights to press their attack.

With the game seemingly headed for overtime, the Golden Knights struck again late. Hanifin found the net a second time at 19:11, snapping a quick shot past Skinner off, after a weak play from Ekholm on the boards. The Oilers had little time to respond before Vegas iced the game with an empty-net goal from Mark Stone, with just five seconds left, finalizing the 4-2 scoreline.

The loss highlighted Edmonton’s recurring issues with third-period discipline and defensive lapses. Despite strong performances from key players, including Stuart Skinner's 31 saves, the Oilers were unable to hold off the surging Golden Knights in the critical moments. Adin Hill’s performance proved to be the difference-maker, as he outdueled Skinner with clutch saves to protect Vegas' lead in the final minutes.

The defeat marks a missed opportunity for the Oilers, who continue to struggle in closing out games. For Edmonton, the focus must now shift to tightening up their third-period play, particularly in high-stakes situations, if they hope to keep pace in the Pacific Division. Meanwhile, both Skinner and Hill will look forward to continuing their campaigns for Canada’s top spot in the crease, with tonight’s result giving Hill an early edge in the competition.

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