The Oxford English Dictionary defines 'frustration' as a feeling of being upset or angry, especially because of an inability to change or achieve something. Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy prefers not to use that particular term, but it certainly described the team's 4-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday.
"I'm not disappointed. I mean, you get what you deserve, right?" Cassidy expressed his condolences after the team's 4–2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. "It's not frustration, it's just not smart. Smart hockey for a veteran." [team]We will be on our toes.
Despite the playoff implications amid the battle for the Pacific Division, neither team started the game with much excitement. Despite the early penalty kill, the Oilers caught up with Vegas early. Edmonton had the first four shots on goal; It took about 10 minutes for the Golden Knights to record their first.
"We didn't get the start we wanted," Cassidy said after the game. "Got some big saves from Aiden Hill. We needed them because we weren't good in the first 10 minutes."
The intensity increased in the second period. The Golden Knights allowed four high-danger chances, but otherwise largely controlled the game. They defeated the Oilers 11–4 and created 17 scoring chances.
The Oilers broke the ice just 3:21 into the second period. Evan Bouchard danced around Brandon Saad, rolled to the right, drove down to the right circle, and fired a shot on net. Adin Hill made the save, but Bouchard chased the puck and delivered a centering pass to Trent Frederick. Hill made two saves, but Frederick eventually succeeded on the third attempt.
The Golden Knights scored the equalizer at 13:09 of the second minute. Mitch Marner won a board battle and handed it back to Noah Hanifin, who was fresh off the bench. Hanifin drove to the line and fired a wrist shot that deflected in front of the net and beat Connor Ingram from distance.
In an uncharacteristic turn of events, the Golden Knights were outclassed in the third period. Shots were tied at eight each, but the Oilers created 12 scoring chances and held Vegas to five. The Golden Knights controlled only 20.16% of the expected goal share, and as Bruce Cassidy said, they got what they deserved.
The Oilers regained the lead just 2:34 into the third minute. Tomas Hertl won an offensive zone draw, but Vasily Podkolzin beat a flat-footed Jeremy Lauzon to the puck. Podkolzin raced up the ice, split the defense, left Lauzon and Rasmus Andersson in the dust, and passed Edin Hill. Podkolzin broke the net and scored with hard work.
The Oilers doubled their lead at 11:53 of the third. Rasmus Andersson broke his stick attempting to clear and was forced to drop it and make an empty-handed save. The Golden Knights regained control of the puck, but Anderson's broken stick blocked Jack Eichel's clearing attempt. Connor McDavid controlled the puck and found Leon Draisaitl down low for a five-hole backhander.
Shea Theodore took a high-sticking penalty with 4:47 remaining in regulation. But as soon as all hope was gone, Jack Eichel left the team behind.
The Golden Knights got within one while shorthanded at 16:43 of the third period. Jack Eichel drove deep into the zone, pulled up, and Evan Bouchard and Leon Draisaitl were double-teamed. Mitch Marner retrieved the puck and found Eichel all alone at the right point; Eichel drove it out of the house.
Trailing by only one, the Golden Knights pulled Adin Hill for an extra attacker with 3:30 remaining in regulation. They couldn't even get a shot on goal and the Oilers scored a dagger at 18:03 of the third. Connor McDavid won a footrace for the puck and set up Kasperi Kapanen for an empty-netter.
“At the end of the day, 6-on-5, like a small part of our game, doesn't have enough urgency, right?” Cassidy expressed his condolences. "There's a 50-50 puck. I know McDavid is one of the fastest guys in the world, but we have a chance to at least tie it until we get help, or allow him to go out of the zone... We didn't win that race."
