Tempers ran hot in Edmonton on Thursday night following a controversial overtime incident that left the Vegas Golden Knights livid. The sequence involved Oilers forward Viktor Arvidsson and Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb, who went crashing into the boards after appearing to be tripped.
Officials let the play go, and moments later, Edmonton buried the game-winner to take a 5-4 win and a 2-0 lead in the series.
Vegas Captain Mark Stone Didn’t Hide His Frustration
“Pretty clear it’s a penalty,” Stone said after the game. “His stick’s between McNabb’s legs, he sends him headfirst into the boards. Pretty clear-cut penalty in my eyes and I think everybody’s eyes.”
The collision unfolded in overtime as both teams battled for possession near the boards. Arvidsson’s stick tangled with McNabb’s skates, sending the Vegas blueliner sprawling into the wall. He remained down briefly before skating off with help and did not return.
No whistle came, and Edmonton quickly capitalized. Connor McDavid found Leon Draisaitl in front of the net for the winner, while Vegas was still reeling.
“It’s hockey, you don’t always get the calls. It’s unfortunate. Now we might be down a D-man. We’ll see tomorrow. It’s just a dirty play and we don’t get the call,” Stone added.
Head coach Bruce Cassidy didn’t mince words postgame either. “He blew it. He missed the call,” Cassidy said of referee Gord Dwyer. “I don’t know what else to say. It’s a can-opener trip. It’s a dangerous play. It’s all of those things, but it didn’t get called so you have to keep playing.”
The Knights are now dealing with two problems: a 2-0 series hole and uncertainty around McNabb’s condition, which is reportedly an upper-body injury. Game 3 shifts to Edmonton’s Rogers Place on Saturday night.
Officiating Under Fire After Viktor Arvidsson-Brayden McNabb Collision
Viktor Arvidsson is at the center of a growing debate about playoff officiating after a contentious no-call during a critical overtime moment. Though the Oilers forward wasn’t penalized, his involvement changed the course of Game 2.
McNabb’s sudden exit left a hole in the Golden Knights’ defense, and the Oilers pounced. Within minutes, Leon Draisaitl ended the game off a slick McDavid feed.
The call, or lack of one, sparked reaction across the league. Analysts and fans questioned the consistency of playoff officiating, pointing out similar infractions that drew penalties earlier in the postseason.
Cassidy spoke to the emotional impact such moments have. “Nabber [McNabb] is one of our guys that we—probably one of the most popular teammates in the room,” Cassidy said. “So that is a tough part of playing through it. It’s not as easy as it looks. We’re human, right? But at the end of the day, that’s the task in front of you when those calls happen or don’t happen. And they made a play and capitalized on it.”
Vegas still put up a strong showing. Victor Olofsson scored twice, while William Karlsson and Alex Pietrangelo also chipped in to help force overtime.
On the Oilers’ side, the win was a full-team effort. Darnell Nurse, Evander Kane, and Draisaitl all lit the lamp. Goaltender Calvin Pickard made 28 saves, holding off Vegas in crunch time. Adin Hill stopped 32 shots for the Knights but couldn’t fend off the final blow.
With Game 3 looming, the spotlight remains firmly on Arvidsson—his role in the controversy and what comes next. Whether McNabb can suit up remains unclear, but Vegas knows the urgency is real: bounce back fast or fall behind for good.