2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview: Vegas Golden Knights vs. Edmonton Oilers

Trey Daubert / NHL / May 6, 2025

2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview: Vegas Golden Knights vs. Edmonton Oilers

It’s starting to feel like 2023 again? The Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers meet in the dance once again. Hi, Trey here, we’re going to have a quick chat about the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. You’re already here, so how about you take a seat and hear what I have to say? You’re always welcome to comment!

The Golden Knights took care of the Wild in six (one game extra than my original prediction). Meanwhile, the Oilers took care of the Kings in the first round for the… wait for it… FOURTH year in a row. The last time these two squared off in the playoffs, the winner went on to win the Cup. Let’s talk shop on some key factors heading into things this time around.

Date	Game	Time (ET)
Tuesday, May 6	1. Edmonton at Vegas	9:30 PM
Thursday, May 8	2. Edmonton at Vegas	9:30 PM
Saturday, May 10	3. Vegas at Edmonton	TBD
Monday, May 12	4. Vegas at Edmonton	TBD
*Wednesday, May 14	5. Edmonton at Vegas	TBD
*Friday, May 16	6. Vegas at Edmonton	TBD
*Sunday, May 18	7. Edmonton at Vegas	TBD

The Case For Edmonton

97 and 29. Do I need to say anything else? A blind squirrel missing its two front teeth knows the Oilers have two of the best players in the world. It’s not like they haven’t had success against Vegas in the past. During Game one last year, Leon Draisaitl scored four goals (they still lost the game somehow).

You just can’t count those guys out. They looked dead in the water against LA down 0-2 in the series. Then in the snap of a finger ring off four straight to win the series.

By the way, we know how lethal this Edmonton powerplay is. Vegas is very good defensively, but if there’s a black hole, it’s 75.7% penalty kill, which ranked 26th in the league. A lot of that has to do with Adin Hill not being able to make a save with Vegas posting the 7th-worst shorthanded save percentage in the league at 83.04%.

Speaking of Hill, he essentially won them the series last go around, but played like trash against Minnesota. He was at a .827 SV% and a -2.97 GSAx during the first three games of that series. If Hill can’t significantly outduel Calvin Pickard, Vegas can probably kiss their chances goodbye.

Edmonton also has a way better coach entering the matchup this year. No offense to Jay Woodcroft, but Kris Knoblauch has been a huge upgrade. Last go around, Bruce Cassidy ran circles around Woodcroft. I’m not sure that will be the case this time.

Also, the Oilers depth feels battle-tested. Evander Kane is back. Jake Walman has been a contributor. Trent Frederic is finally fitting in. Connor Brown actually looks healthy. You get the point. If those guys can keep it rolling, Edmonton advances.

The Case For Vegas

If any team is built to stop the Oilers… It’s probably Vegas. We saw it the last time these teams matched up. They have some of the best defensive forwards in the league, and Jack Eichel can truly match the superpowers of McJesus. Eichel has turned into one of the best defensive centers in the league. Not to mention that William Karlsson is his own version of a wet blanket. Then Mark Stone will find ways to do Mark Stone things.

Edmonton’s power play is lethal, but Vegas has elements to counter it. A 28.3% power play conversion rate ranked second in the league. It’s been a totally different unit since Tomas Hertl was added, and he wasn’t on the team the last time these two met. Vegas also ranked 5th in the league in goals for and third in the league in goals against. It’s a complete hockey team that isn’t going to roll over and die like the Kings. Vegas also set a record for committing the least amount of penalties in NHL history. If they remain disciplined and keep things at 5-on-5, they win this series.

Speaking of that, for as bad as Adin Hill has been, he certainly gives Vegas the goalie advantage. Calvin Pickard is a cute story, but is he really going to hold up against this VGK team? Pickard went 4-0 against the Kings with a .893 SV% and -0.62 GSAx. If he posts those save numbers against Vegas, they’re losing the series.

It also feels like Vegas will feast on this Edmonton blue line. Matias Ekholm is hurt, and that injury is just not one you can ignore. Evan Bouchard is his own worst enemy at times. Beyond that, it’s unreliable Darnell Nurse and John Klingberg who is begging to get abused. Vegas’ blue line is night and day, the better overall unit, especially since Noah Hanifin was added to the fold.