(Edmonton) For the Edmonton Oilers, the key will be to end the “roller coaster” look of the series against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Since the Knights won Game 1 6-4, the clubs have alternated as to who has the upper hand.
The Oilers prevailed 5-1 in Game 2, before losing by the same score.
They woke up Wednesday night to a 4-1 win to even the odds. Heading now to Game 5 on Friday, in Nevada.
“We’ve responded well so far, but we have to make sure we stay in control,” said forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The Knights are going to want a strong start to the game at home. You will have to be up to it and control the pace from the start. »
PHOTO PERRY NELSON, USA TODAY SPORTS VIA REUTERS CON
Ryan Nugent Hopkins (93)
Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft elaborated on the challenge.
“It became a two of three,” he said. There can be no more missed ice appearances or forgotten games. It’s not easy to play in Las Vegas, but we had success there during the season. We will have to play our best game of the series (Friday). »
Golden Knights forward Nicholas Roy believes his team can recover.
“We want to bounce back,” Roy said. We’ve done it a lot this season so we just have to do it again. »
Alex Pietrangelo slashed playoff leading scorer Leon Draisaitl with 1:27 left in the third period on Wednesday.
After a hearing with the league, it imposed a one-game suspension on the veteran Knights on Thursday night.
In the game itself, he received a major penalty and a game misconduct.
Pietrangelo’s gesture led to a fight between Darnell Nurse of the Oilers and Nicolas Hague of the Knights.
Nurse was suspended for a meeting, having been the instigator.