Playoff hockey is just three weeks away, but fans in Las Vegas got an early look on Tuesday night.
Still without two of their most important players, the Edmonton Oilers rallied from a slow start to pull out a massive 3-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, snapping their division rival’s six-game win streak.
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The Oilers rode a three-goal second period and a frenetic, hard-fought third to come away with their league-leading 21st one-goal win. They now have 91 points with eight games left in the season, seven back of the Golden Knights for the division lead.
Key Player Grades
Jake Walman: A
Walman has been a massive addition to the Oilers’ blueline, picking up five assists in 11 games while bringing another dynamic element to the team and replacing the injured Mattias Ekholm. He finally scored his first goal as an Oiler on Tuesday, tying the game at one just 19 seconds into the second period with an absolute laser.
Jake Walman wires it for his first as an Oiler! 🛢️ pic.twitter.com/k5aLGeyNfV
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 2, 2025
Walman led all Oilers defensemen with an 85% even strength expected goals share on Tuesday, picking up a +2 line on top of his seventh goal of the season.
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Vasily Podkolzin: B+
Podkolzin may have only picked up an assist, but he was the Oilers’ best player against the Golden Knights on Tuesday. He was in peak form, a forechecking demon and bruising power forward who made plays at both ends of the ice and pitched in four hits for good measure. His line with Viktor Arvidsson and Draisaitl was huge in all situations, with his linemates contributing the Oilers’ second and third goals.
Leon Draisaitl fires it home to give the @EdmontonOilers the lead! ⛽️ pic.twitter.com/DAz7IOe9co
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 2, 2025
Calvin Pickard: A
Second period aside, the Oilers don’t win on Tuesday without Calvin Pickard’s performance. He kept them in the game during a horrific first period, allowing just one goal, and some massive saves late in the third period to turn back the Golden Knights’ attempted comeback.
Calvin Pickard makes a massive save late in the 3rd period!
🎥: Sportsnet | #LetsGoOilerspic.twitter.com/rMus9r2so5
— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) April 2, 2025
Tasked with starting three consecutive games for the first time as an Oiler, Pickard answered the bell with 20 saves and a .909 save percentage. Given the Oilers’ formidable offensive weapons, that might just be all they need.
Plenty of Oilers had good nights: Kasperi Kapanen had one of his best games as an Oiler, Evan Bouchard added two assists to get to 60 points on the year, and Leon Draisaitl scored his 52nd goal of the season. With Connor McDavid’s return still in doubt, they’ll all need to keep it up as they continue on their four-game road trip on Thursday in San Jose.
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