Two years ago, when the Golden Knights and Oilers matched up in the Second Round of the playoff,s the prevailing story of the series was Vegas’ depth winning out over Edmonton’s. Leon Draisaitl scored six goals in the first two games, Connor McDavid had 10 points in the series, and their power play outscored the Golden Knights 9-2. Through two games in the series this year, it has completely flipped.
VGK have the advantage on the power play at 3-0. Mark Stone has two goals. Jack Eichel has four points. And yet, at even-strength it’s 9-3 in favor of Edmonton, and that’s why they hold the 2-0 series lead.
Credit to their depth, they found ways to score. We saw that in the LA series, I think Edmonton did a good job there too, that’s how you have runs. -Bruce Cassidy
As the series shifts to Edmonton, there’s no better time than now for this to change for the Golden Knights. In Game 2, they answered the question of whether or not they could slow down Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl with a more balanced lineup. But life gets even tougher on the road.
It’s 4-4 and I’m thinking, their top guys aren’t on the scoresheet, we need this one to go our way. But, it didn’t, they made the play at the end. If we can replicate the game plan against them. It’ll be a little tougher up there because there will be different matchups. Tonight we did a good job on them. Those guys you have to make it hard on them and make them earn every inch of ice and we did that tonight. They still got us at the end. -Cassidy
There’s no beating around the bush; from this point forward, Vegas’ bottom-nine (all forwards other than the top line) must outscore Edmonton’s. If they don’t, the season will end within the next 10 days.
Vegas finished the regular season with the most goals in franchise history and were just one off the most 5-on-5 goals behind the Cup-winning 2023 team. This team had the weapons to do it in the regular season, they need to come through right now in the postseason. Brett Howden, Tomas Hertl, Ivan Barbashev, Nic Roy, Tanner Pearson, and Victor Olofsson each had at least 9 even-strength goals this season, they’ve combined for zero in the opening two games of the series.
It becomes even more crucial with three of the final five games to be played (if we get there) to be played in Edmonton. The Oilers’ superstar duo will get better matchups and likely do even more damage than they have in Games 1 and 2. So effective offense at even strength will be needed from everyone. The Golden Knights have the edge in special teams, and there’s no reason that has to slow down as the series progresses, but 90+% of hockey games are played at 5-on-5.
All season long, VGK has touted their ability and willingness to roll four lines, to wear opponents down, and their seven players with at least 15 goals. No more getting outplayed by Vasily Podkolzin, Connor Brown, and Evander Kane. Time to step up, or else, it’ll probably have to be time to move on from a few familiar names down the lineup this summer.
Frank
Depth scoring yes, but even more crucial… Goaltending….Hill needs to be much better. If he is, the Oilers “depth” scoring magically goes away.
JB
Hill is simply not playing up to what is needed to win a cup. We know he can’t p,any at that level and he needs to start NOW!
knights fan in minny
Might be too late
JB
I have this thought that either we get swept … OR … we comeback and win this thing.
Emmanuel
“All season long, VGK has touted their ability and willingness to roll four lines, to wear opponents down“.
Myths take a long time to die…….The playoffs is when benches should be shortened and 4th liners/3rd pairing guys should be given junk minutes.
Anyways, counting on Pearson/Howden & an Eichel-less Barbashev to score is a stretch. Speaking of Eichel, he has ONE goal in the playoffs, enough with the ‘points’ hype.
hdbiker7851
To win four out of five is a tall order but obviously it can be done as Edmonton has proven with their wins against LA and first two against Vegas – it’s time for Vegas to prove what they are made of and flip the switch. No one is naive enough to believe it’s easy, but it can be done. Can Vegas do it is the 64000-dollar question. I am not optimistic but hopeful – the realist in me says no way but there is always a chance. If you think you can win you might, if you believe you can’t it’s almost a certainty you won’t. Kick it into gear Vegas and show Edmonton what you are made of.
NAM
I’m trying to remain positive that VGK can win this series, but even a pretty strong effort last night ended up a loss. Everyone wants to think of McDavid and Drisiatl, when you think of EDM, but that isn’t who is beating us. Its the depth guys. It fucking Janmark and Kane and Hyman etc etc etc. Sure the big guns take resources, but it is just showing our depth is dog shit. Where did 5v5 Hertl go, where did our 4th line go? Roy is a fucking idiot.
I think there is some guys playing hard. Karlsson is the smallest guy on the team and his fucking balls are twice the size of every one else. I would like to see others step up.
Tim
Does anyone besides me miss Logan Thompson? Another management fuck up!!!!
knights fan in minny
get off the site your boring baseball Indians are on
Tim
mint, I don’t want to get in a pissing war with you because I’ve seen with others you get nasty. I will say if your from Minnesota as your name dictated you are from the most fucked up liberal un-American state in America so talk about my Guardians is rich coming from a person from a communist state that could give a fuck about the safety of our country and protects illegal aliens over American citizens. So yeah being a disabled vet who’s proud to be an American fuck you and the horse you rode in on.
knights fan in minny
Calm down or the ambulance will come
Henderson One
Another big time screw up with the goalie position and another long term contract.
Hdbiker7851
Agreed
arnold rothstein
Timmah , the locker room doesn’t miss LT. He will never be back. You don’t know the half of it.
Hdbiker7851
You post like you were a fly on the wall in the locker room. If that’s not the case you have no idea what went on or didn’t. It’s posts of your nature that causes unfound d opinions and
actual truth.
Hdbiker7851
Thompson is the reason the caps are winning. Unfortunately he is still not a vgk as Hill dsspite some brilliant moments is a disaster much of the time.
Hdbiker7851
Tim – probably everyone misses LT if they had the balls to admit it. The BS about locker room etc has no foundation and is nothing more than gossip at best and outright false at worse. Very frustrating when people post as if they were directly involved – similar in truth to articles that are based on inside info that can’t reveal the source. All BS
Richie-Rich
I think the case is being made that this team isn’t the same without Marchy, William Carrier and Chandler Stephenson. That’s the problem with free agents and the CAP.
knights fan in minny
well said Richie Rich
Emmanuel
Marchessault was ‘replaced’ by Doros breakout season, Carriers are a dime a dozen & Stephenson never scored many goals & VGK is deep at C anyway. The real issue is LW & the blue lines best player is aging/hurt.
ThG
fuck bettman and socialistic nhl cap
nothing like penalizing performance and good decisions.
The hockey God
Saint Leo the Great, also known as Leo I, was a significant early pope whose papacy (440-461) was marked by his efforts to strengthen the church and its doctrines during a period of decline in the Roman Empire. He is remembered for his role in the Council of Chalcedon, his theological writings, and his legendary confrontation with Attila the Hun. Several other popes chose the name Leo, likely due to admiration for Leo the Great and his contributions to the church.
Here’s a more detailed look:
Who was Saint Leo the Great?
A Formative Figure:
Leo I served as pope during a tumultuous time for the church and the Roman Empire. The church was establishing its doctrines and facing challenges from heretical groups.
Defender of Orthodoxy:
Leo I actively sought to eliminate heretics and emphasized the unity of the Church, even communicating with bishops across the Roman Empire.
Theological Leader:
He presided over the Council of Chalcedon, where the Church affirmed the dual nature of Christ as both divine and human.
Legendary Confrontation:
He is famously known for meeting with Attila the Hun and, according to legend, persuading him not to attack Rome.
Doctor of the Church:
Leo I is also recognized as a Doctor of the Church, a title given to theologians whose teachings are deemed particularly influential.
Why were there so many popes named Leo?
Admiration and Continuity:
Popes often choose names that honor previous pontiffs they admire, and Leo I’s contributions to the church and his role in shaping early Christian doctrine have made him a figure of great respect.
A Symbol of Strength and Leadership:
The name “Leo” itself, meaning “lion” in Latin, carries connotations of bravery, strength, and leadership, which are qualities often associated with successful leaders.
Emulating Past Figures:
By choosing the name Leo, subsequent popes may have been signaling their intention to follow in the footsteps of Leo I, upholding the principles and values he championed.
The hockey God
Leo and Attila
Raphael’s The Meeting between Leo the Great and Attila depicts Leo, escorted by Saint Peter and Saint Paul, meeting with the Hun king outside Rome
After the indecisive outcome of the Battle of Chalons in 451, Attila invaded Italy in 452, sacking cities such as Aquileia and heading for Rome. He allegedly demanded that the sister of the reigning Emperor Valentinian III be sent to him with a dowry. In response, the emperor sent three envoys to negotiate with Attila: Gennadius Avienus, one of the consuls of 450, Memmius Aemilius Trygetius, the former urban prefect, and Leo. Little is known of the specifics of the negotiations, as a result of which Attila withdrew. Most ancient and medieval historians celebrated Leo’s actions, giving him all the credit for this successful embassy. According to Prosper of Aquitaine, who was alive at the time of the event, Attila was so impressed by Leo that he withdrew.[33] Another near-contemporary was the historian Priscus who records that Attila was dissuaded from attacking Rome by his own men because they feared he would share the fate of the Visigothic king Alaric, who died shortly after sacking the city in 410.[34] Paul the Deacon, in the late 8th century, relates that an enormously huge man dressed in priestly robes and armed with a sword, visible only to Attila, threatened him and his army with death during his discourse with Leo, and this prompted Attila to submit to his request.[35]
Writing in the early 20th century, the religious skeptic John B. Bury remarked:
The fact of the embassy cannot be doubted. The distinguished ambassadors visited the Hun’s camp near the south shore of Lake Garda. It is also certain that Attila suddenly retreated. But we are at a loss to know what considerations were offered him to induce him to depart. It is unreasonable to suppose that this heathen king would have cared for the thunders or persuasions of the Church. The Emperor refused to surrender Honoria, and it is not recorded that money was paid. A trustworthy chronicle hands down another account which does not conflict with the fact that an embassy was sent, but evidently furnishes the true reasons which moved Attila to receive it favourably. Plague broke out in the barbarian host and their food ran short, and at the same time troops arrived from the east, sent by Marcian to the aid of Italy. If his host was suffering from pestilence, and if troops arrived from the east, we can understand that Attila was forced to withdraw. But whatever terms were arranged, he did not pretend that they meant a permanent peace. The question of Honoria was left unsettled, and he threatened that he would come again and do worse things in Italy unless she were given up with the due portion of the Imperial possessions.[36]
Leo’s intercession could not prevent the sack of the city by the Vandal King Genseric in 455, but murder and arson were repressed by his influence. The Pope and members of his clergy, went to meet the invader to implore him to desist. While the Vandals plundered the city, the gesture nevertheless prevented Rome from being burned and assured that the Basilicas of St Peter, St Paul and St John, in which part of the terrified population sought refuge, were spared. Leo assisted in rebuilding the city of Rome, restoring key places such as Saint Peter’s.[37]
51st state
McNabb, THEODORE, Petro, Hague,
ROY, Howden, and Kolesar
all MINUS 2 in game 2
Barbashev, Pearson, ROY,
THEODORE
all MINUS 2 in game 1
notice that Roy and Theodore are already MINUS 4 in 2 games.
Hell, Edm probably wants Roy to stay in the lineup, it helps them.
Vgk depth? not apparent in this series.
Hdbiker7851
One team has more interest in winning as action speak louder than words. Unfortunately that team is not the vgks.