Barbashev, Stone hold Draisaitl and Oilers in Game 1 victory for Golden Knights
Draisaitl #Draisaitl
Steve Marcus
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) celebrates after scoring against Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (74) during the first period of Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series at T-Mobile Arena Wednesday, May 3, 2023, in Las Vegas.
Wednesday, May 3, 2023 | 9:27 p.m.
Ivan Barbashev scored twice, and the Golden Knights held on for a 6-4 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round series at T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday.
Barbashev scored Vegas’ first goal of the game, then scored the go-ahead goal at 2:36 of the third period for a 4-3 Golden Knights lead.
Mark Stone had a goal and an assist, and Chandler Stephenson scored his fifth goal of the playoffs for the Golden Knights, who lead the best-of-7 series 1-0. Game 2 is here Saturday.
Edmonton star Leon Draisaitl had four goals to become the second player in the playoffs to reach that mark in the last 24 hours. Dallas Stars forward Joe Pavelski had four on Tuesday in Dallas’ 5-4 loss to the Seattle Kraken in the first round.
Laurent Brossoit made 24 saves for his fifth straight playoff victory.
The Oilers’ record-setting power play got an early opportunity and capitalized. McDavid found Draisaitl on a cross-ice pass at 3:36, and Draisaitl’s one-timer opened the scoring for Edmonton.
Barbashev answered 50 seconds later on a scramble in front to tie it 1-1.
The Golden Knights were going to have to keep the game at 5-on-5 to keep within distance. Vegas committed the fewest penalties (273) in the league during the regular season.
When the Golden Knights kept the game at even strength, it showed in the first period with Vegas entering the neutral zone with ease. Karlsson weaved through center ice to find Amadio alone at the right circle, and he beat Skinner for a 2-1 lead at 9:54.
Stone’s fourth goal of the playoff, a power-play deflection at 18:23, extended the Vegas lead to 3-1. But it was offset by Draisaitl’s second goal of the period when he banked it off Brossoit’s back below the goal line with 10.3 seconds left.
Draisaitl completed the hat trick 1:35 into the third on a power play — by way of a roughing call on Alex Pietrangelo — to tie it 3-3.
But Barbashev struck again with the response, deflecting a Zach Whitecloud point shot 1:01 after Draisaitl to restore the Vegas lead at 4-3.
Stephenson added to it 50 seconds later for a 5-3 lead off a feed from Stone. Jack Eichel scored the empty-netter with 34 seconds left to seal it.
It wasn’t the prettiest game, and it was overshadowed slightly for Draisaitl’s near-heroics, but the Golden Knights held court and kept Edmonton’s dynamic offense in check.
Do it again Saturday, and things get interesting.
This is a developing story. Check back later for updates.