The Edmonton Oilers picked up a statement win Thursday night, edging the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in overtime. The victory marked their second straight win and helped solidify their position near the top of the Pacific Division. Still, despite the momentum, Zach Hyman made it clear the team isn’t getting carried away.
Zach Hyman Urges Caution After Oilers Beat Golden Knights
Matt Savoie opened the scoring for the Oilers with a first-period goal off a pass from Connor McDavid. Mark Stone tied it early in the second for the Golden Knights, but McDavid restored Edmonton’s lead on a 3-on-1 rush.
Stone struck again later in the period after stealing the puck, making it 2-2. Hyman answered quickly, putting the Oilers ahead 3-2. In the third, Ivan Barbashev finished a rebound to even the game. Overtime settled it, as Evan Bouchard scored at 3:10 to lift Edmonton to a 4-3 victory.
After the game, Hyman emphasized how crucial each point is down the stretch. “Every point is magnified. It’s hard to gain points when there are only nine games left,” he said. “So, a big win for us to stay ahead.”
However, he quickly tempered expectations. “We have to string more wins together before we start to pump ourselves up. Every year many doubt what we can do, and I think we have the team when we commit to playing the right way… it is hard to score against,” Hyman said.
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Hyman also pointed to the importance of getting Leon Draisaitl back from injury. “On the other side we have guys who can break the game open. We are missing one right now, but when we get him (Draisaitl) back and we are playing like this we have a chance,” he said.
Draisaitl is expected to be out for the remainder of the regular season with a lower-body injury. But there’s optimism he could return for the playoffs.
If the Oilers keep playing at this level and get him back, it would be a major boost to their Stanley Cup chances. They’ve come close in recent years, reaching back-to-back Finals, only to be denied both times by the Florida Panthers.
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Head coach Kris Knoblauch echoed a similar sentiment, noting the urgency in the team’s approach. “We’re looking more like we’re playing a playoff game,” Knoblauch said. “Like things matter, things like attention to detail. We’re simplifying our game. It’s nice to see. The games are so important right now that everyone seems like they’re dialed in.”
With momentum on their side, the Oilers will look to carry it forward when they take on the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday.
