Edmonton Oilers vs. Vegas Golden Knights Game 1 Prediction, Potential Lineups, and Key Matchups

The second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs kicked off, and the Vegas Golden Knights will host the Edmonton Oilers for Game 1. Both clubs handled business in the first round, closing out their respective series in six games — Edmonton took out the Los Angeles Kings, while Vegas got past the Minnesota Wild.

This matchup brings plenty of firepower on both sides, and with big names on the ice, it’s shaping up to be one of the more exciting battles in the West.

Game 1 Preview: Oilers vs. Golden Knights

Head-to-Head and Notable Numbers

• Season series: Split 2-2
• Oilers away record: 23-16-2
• Golden Knights home record: 29-9-3
• Goals against (avg): Vegas – 2.6 | Edmonton – 2.86
• Goals for (avg): Vegas – 3.34 | Edmonton – 3.15

Game 1 Storylines: Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers head into this series with momentum on their side. After falling behind 0-2 to L.A., they stormed back with four straight wins to close it out. Unsurprisingly, Connor McDavid led the charge with 11 points, while Leon Draisaitl followed closely behind with 10.

Evan Bouchard had a productive series with seven points from the blue line, and key contributions came from Zach Hyman, Connor Brown, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, each with five.

Calvin Pickard took over for Stuart Skinner in the net and hasn’t looked back. He wrapped up the regular season at 22-10-1 with a 2.71 GAA and a .900 save percentage. His lone career win against Vegas came with a 2.03 GAA and a .909 SV%. In these playoffs, he’s gone 4-0, though his 2.93 GAA and .893 SV% suggest there’s still room to tighten things up.

Game 1 Storylines: Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas handled the Wild without too much drama, taking the series in six. Adin Hill will start in goal after a strong regular season that saw him finish 32-13-5 with a 2.47 GAA and .906 SV%. His track record against Edmonton is more mixed — three wins, four losses, and a 2.80 GAA to go along with a .896 SV%. So far this postseason, he’s 4-2 with a 2.83 GAA and .880 SV%.

Offensively, the Knights have seen strong playoff performances from Jack Eichel and Tomas Hertl, each putting up five points. Mark Stone and Shea Theodore both added four, while Brett Howden chipped in with three. Vegas continues to lean on its four-line depth, a key reason they’ve stayed competitive in the postseason.

Edmonton Oilers Projected Lineup

Forwards

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins — Connor McDavid — Zach Hyman
Evander Kane — Leon Draisaitl — Connor Brown
Dylan Holloway — Ryan McLeod — Corey Perry
Warren Foegele — Derek Ryan — Mattias Janmark

Defense

Darnell Nurse — Evan Bouchard
Mattias Ekholm — Vincent Desharnais
Brett Kulak — Cody Ceci

Goalies

Calvin Pickard (starter)
Stuart Skinner

Scratches: Philip Broberg, Sam Gagner
Injured: None

Vegas Golden Knights Projected Lineup

Forwards

William Karlsson — Jack Eichel — Mark Stone
Brandon Saad — Tomas Hertl — Keegan Kolesar
Ivan Barbashev — Nicolas Roy — Reilly Smith
Tanner Pearson — Brett Howden — Victor Olofsson

Defense

Alec Martinez — Alex Pietrangelo
Brayden McNabb — Shea Theodore
Ben Hutton — Zach Whitecloud

Goalies

Adin Hill (starter)
Logan Thompson

Scratches: Paul Cotter, Kaedan Korczak
Injured: William Carrier, Nicolas Hague

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Golden Knights -135 | Oilers +114
• Puck Line: Golden Knights -1.5
• Over/Under: 6.5 goals

Oilers vs. Golden Knights Game 1 Prediction

This one should be a tight contest. Edmonton’s top-end talent is rolling, and they’ve looked sharper since Pickard took the reins. That said, Vegas brings a more structured game and a proven track record at home.

Expect both teams to light the lamp — these offenses don’t need much space to convert. But if Hill can hold it together, Vegas has the kind of lineup balance that could give Edmonton fits over 60 minutes.

Oilers vs. Golden Knights Prop Bets To Watch

• Leon Draisaitl Anytime Goal (+130): Has scored in three of his last four games.
• Connor McDavid 2+ Points (+100): A regular multi-point threat in the playoffs.
• Ivan Barbashev Anytime Goal (+350): A sneaky value play in Vegas’ top six.
• Over 6.5 Goals (-105): Both teams can score in bunches, and neither goaltender has been airtight.

Score Prediction: Oilers 4, Golden Knights 3
Best Bets: Oilers Moneyline (+114), Over 6.5 Goals, Draisaitl Anytime Goal (+130)

This article has been updated to correct factual inaccuracies.