The Vegas Golden Knights have been dominant at home this season, and on Wednesday night, they finally found success on the road, defeating the Edmonton Oilers 4-2 at Rogers Place. Timely contributions from Noah Hanifin and Jack Eichel led the way as the Knights secured their first road victory of the 2024-25 season.
Eichel Shines Early
Jack Eichel opened the scoring with a beautiful play, showcasing his speed and stick handling. Eichel took a precise feed from Shea Theodore and broke in alone on Edmonton’s goalie, Stuart Skinner, slipping the puck past him to give Vegas an early lead. This play was set up by a clever pass from Ivan Barbashev, who drew defenders in, freeing up Eichel to capitalize.
Hanifin and Stone Seal the Deal
Later in the game, Noah Hanifin delivered the decisive goal, finishing off a slick setup from Barbashev once again. Hanifin’s goal held up as the game-winner, while captain Mark Stone added an empty-netter with just five seconds left, ensuring the Oilers would leave empty-handed. The Oilers have struggled to start this season, now sitting at 6-7-1.
Keeping McDavid at Bay
A key to Vegas’s win was keeping Oilers star Connor McDavid off the scoreboard. McDavid, recently back from an ankle injury, was limited to two shots in 21 minutes of ice time. Though his return was initially expected to be delayed, McDavid pushed to play, but the Knights managed to contain him.
Hill Stands Strong in Net
Golden Knights goalie Adin Hill was sharp, stopping 27 shots and posting a .931 save percentage. Hill has now won four consecutive starts and seems to be finding his rhythm. If Hill continues this strong play, his tandem with Ilya Samsonov could be a powerful force as Vegas pursues another Stanley Cup.
Next Up: Seattle Showdown
The Golden Knights are now tied with the Los Angeles Kings atop the Pacific Division with 19 points, although the Kings have played one extra game. Next, Vegas will travel to Seattle to face the struggling Kraken, who are on a four-game losing streak. A second straight road win could be just what the Knights need to keep building momentum.