Golden Knights recap: Oilers stars shine bright in blowout win

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) shoots however doesn & #x 2019; t score against Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague (14) throughout the second period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, May 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidtttEdmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) scores on Golden Knights goaltender Laurent Brossoit (39) throughout the first duration in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, May 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_ImagesGolden Knights goaltender Laurent Brossoit (39) eyes a loose puck versus Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) during the first period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, May 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
Knights-Oilers series at a glimpse

* If necessary.

RJ's three stars.

3. Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard- - The 23-year-old former first-round choice transformed his only shot into an objective and included an assist. He has a point in eight straight games, a franchise record for a defenseman.

2. Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl- - After scoring 4 goals in Game 1, Draisaitl went for 2 Saturday. He got the festivities began with a power-play objective 2:21 into the game, then extended the cause 4-0 late in the very first period when the puck found him in front after Knights goalie Laurent Brossoit was knocked to the ice.

1. Oilers forward Connor McDavid - - The superstar had 2 objectives and a help, however may have qualified for this honor based exclusively on design points on the short-handed, unassisted piece of art he produced midway through the first duration. McDavid took the puck near the blue line in the defensive zone, skated past Shea Theodore, then held him off while utilizing his free hand to move the puck past Brossoit. McDavid also assisted on Draisaitl's first objective and included a power-play goal in the 2nd duration.

Secret play.

Brayden McNabb penalty at 1:13 of the very first duration.

The Knights won Game 1 despite Edmonton discovering its typical success on the power play, but they couldn't manage to put the Oilers on the man-advantage early Saturday and let them discover their game. Instead, McNabb was sent out to package for cross-checking practically right away. Draisaitl converted 1:08 later, and the thrashing was on.

Another prospect for this honor was McDavid's short-handed goal at 11:11 of the first period. The Knights trailed 2-0, however had simply gone on the power play and had hope of solving back into the video game.

McDavid squashed those thoughts with his highlight-reel objective.

Key stat.

19-4 - - Sure, the 4-0 lead was one sign of the Oilers' dominance in the very first 20 minutes.

It went far beyond that.

Edmonton put 19 shots on internet in the first period, many of them of the dangerous range.

The Knights mustered 4, and they weren't especially challenging for Stuart Skinner.

Zach Hyman led the way with four shots in the duration, and Draisaitl had three. Hyman likewise had three assists in the very first. In all, 11 gamers got a shot on goal in the period.

No Knights player had more than one.

Knights quotable.

" Most disappointing part of the game for me as a head coach. We talked about that, and going forward that ideally is the very first thing we correct," Knights coach Bruce Cassidy, on how long it took his group to appear emotionally involved in the game.

Oilers quotable.

" You also do not see a lot of people getting leapt from behind and head-locked. - Oilers forward Evander Kane, on the rare sight of his series of body shots to a downed Keegan Kolesar.

Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on Twitter.