Date: May 6, 2025
Time: 9:30 PM ET
Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
Broadcast: ESPN, TVAS
Series Overview
The Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights meet in the Western Conference Second Round, marking their second playoff battle in three seasons. Their last postseason clash came in 2023, when Vegas eliminated Edmonton in six games on their way to winning the Stanley Cup.
Both teams enter this series with momentum. The Golden Knights advanced after defeating the Minnesota Wild in six games, winning the final three matchups, including two in overtime. The Oilers, meanwhile, staged a comeback against the Los Angeles Kings, winning four straight after dropping the first two games.
The regular-season series was evenly split, with each team winning two games apiece.
Team Breakdown & Key Players
Vegas Golden Knights (No. 1 Seed, 50-22-10 Record)
- Last Game: Defeated Minnesota 3-2 in Game 6 to close out the series.
- Key Players:
- Jack Eichel – Led Vegas with four points (one goal, three assists) against Edmonton in the regular season.
- Mark Stone – The captain remains a crucial two-way presence, contributing two goals and two assists in the first round.
- Adin Hill – The goaltender struggled early against Minnesota but rebounded in the final three games.
Edmonton Oilers (No. 3 Seed, 48-29-5 Record)
- Last Game: Defeated Los Angeles 4-2 in Game 6 to clinch the series.
- Key Players:
- Connor McDavid – The Oilers’ superstar had one assist against Vegas in the regular season but dominated the first round.
- Leon Draisaitl – Led Edmonton against Vegas with four points (two goals, two assists) in the regular season.
- Calvin Pickard – Took over goaltending duties in the first round, going 4-0 after replacing Stuart Skinner.
Game 1 Storylines & Predictions
1. Can Edmonton Overcome Vegas’ Depth?
The Golden Knights boast a deep, playoff-tested roster, with 15 players remaining from their 2023 championship team. Edmonton must find ways to break through Vegas’ defensive structure.
2. McDavid & Draisaitl vs. Eichel & Stone – The Star Battle
McDavid and Draisaitl combined for five goals and 21 assists in the first round. Eichel and Stone totaled six goals and eight assists for Vegas. This matchup could define the series.
3. Pickard vs. Hill – The Goaltending Duel
Pickard stepped up for Edmonton, going 4-0 in the first round. Hill, despite early struggles, stabilized Vegas’ net late in the series.
Game Odds
Edmonton Oilers 6.5
Vegas Golden Knights – 142
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, May 5, 2025
