Knights clinch playoff berth despite loss to Oilers

Danny Webster, Las Vegas Review-Journal on Apr 2, 2025

Published in Hockey

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Soft cheers echoed through T-Mobile Arena when in-arena host Mark Shunock announced the Golden Knights punched their ticket to the postseason yet again.

Edmonton Oilers fans crowding the standing-room-only section on the top floor were partying more.

The Knights clinched a playoff spot for the seventh time in eight seasons but had their six-game winning streak snapped in a 3-2 loss to the Oilers on Tuesday.

It’s an achievement worth celebrating for the Knights, who add another yearly accolade to their eight-year run in the NHL that includes a Stanley Cup championship in 2023.

But in the immediate aftermath, the Knights — who dominated play in the first period — allowed three unanswered goals in the second period before a late comeback ultimately fell short.

Center Nicolas Roy had a goal and an assist, and right wing Pavel Dorofeyev scored his team-leading 32nd goal for the Knights (45-21-8), who failed to add to their lead in the Pacific Division. Goaltender Adin Hill made 17 saves in his first regulation loss since March 9.

The Knights controlled play early and shut down the Oilers in the first. They had a 10-1 edge in shots through the first 18:42.

One of those shots came on Roy’s third goal in six games back at the 4:34 mark after Dorofeyev forced a turnover and found Roy trailing. His one-timer in close opened the scoring.

All that work went away in the second.

The Oilers started their comeback with defenseman Jake Walman’s blast from the left circle 19 seconds in to tie it 1-1.

After two penalties in 17 seconds, the Oilers took the lead on a five-on-three power-play goal on a one-timer from center Leon Draisaitl — his league-leading 52nd of the season — to make it 2-1 at 16:03.

Right wing Viktor Arvidsson added the third at 18:20 after poking home the loose puck that was tucked under Hill’s pads to make it 3-1.

Coach Bruce Cassidy challenged for goaltender interference, but it was upheld after video review.

The Knights got one back early in the third with Dorofeyev’s shot from the point at 2:35 to make it 3-2.

Dorofeyev had two chances in the third to tie the game, once on a rebound after Roy’s shot hit the post and another on a six-on-five with 1:40 to go that was saved by Edmonton goaltender Calvin Pickard.

The Knights checked off a box on their to-do list going into the season.

They would’ve rather celebrated that with a win over their rivals, who did not have captain Connor McDavid in the lineup because of a lower-body injury.

Three takeaways from the loss:

1. Roy line offers offense

It was the fourth game for the new-look second line with Roy in place of center Tomas Hertl, who is out this week as he recovers from an upper-body injury.

The line found the offense after looking mostly ineffective during the Knights’ three-game road trip. Roy and Dorofeyev provided the points, while left wing Brandon Saad was a plus-2 in 15:42.

Roy felt they found some chemistry in Saturday’s 3-1 win in Nashville. That carried over in a big way Tuesday.

2. Stone hits 700

Captain Mark Stone appeared in his 700th game Tuesday in what was also his 60th game of the season.

Stone played his 334th game with the Knights dating back to when he was acquired from the Ottawa Senators in February 2019.

It was a quiet night for Stone’s line with center Jack Eichel and left wing Ivan Barbahsev. They combined for three shots, two of them from Eichel, while each was a minus-2.

3. Pickard plays Knights

If Pickard’s name sounds familiar, think back to the 2017 expansion draft.

The 32-year-old was the Knights’ first expansion draft selection, chosen from the last-place Colorado Avalanche. Pickard was one of three goalies selected, along with J-F Berube and Marc-Andre Fleury.

Pickard finished with 20 saves in his first start against the Knights. He got the start in place of the injured Stuart Skinner, who is out with a concussion.

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