The Vegas Golden Knights are coming off a last-second thriller in Game 3 and now look to even their series against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 4 tonight. We’re not so sure tonight’s game can get any better than that last game where the Knights found the back of the net in literally the last second, but it definitely makes for a thrilling Game 4.
The Oilers still lead the series 2-1, but momentum just might have just swung after Vegas stunned Edmonton with a goal in the final second. Can they do it again to tie the series up? Will that goal be what everyone remembers from this series as Vegas goes on to the next round of the NHL playoffs? It’s a tall order, but we think the Knights can pull it off tonight.
This second-round playoff series has been absolutely packed with offense, drama, and elite performances from both sides.
Tonight, the bookmakers are favoring the Oilers at -122, but Vegas isn’t too far off with +102 on the moneyline.
A good reason for that is Edmonton took the first 2 games in Vegas, winning 4-2 and then 5-4 in OT, but the Golden Knights stole Game 3 with a 4-3 win thanks to Reilly Smith’s game-winner with 0.4 seconds on the clock. If that’s not resiliency, then we don’t know what is.
Edmonton entered the series as the slight favorite, and they’ve lived up to that with their potent offense on away ice. But Vegas is right there with them, and with Game 4 back in Vegas, this is shaping up to be a pivotal swing game that could tip the scale of the series.
The story of the series so far has been about making the most of mistakes.
Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid continue to lead Edmonton’s high-powered attack as they have all season long. Draisaitl has 52 goals and 106 points this season with 5 goals and 10 assists in the postseason. McDavid leads the league in helpers with 74 and has 3 goals and 13 assists in the playoffs. The duo has combined for multiple highlight moments and continues to be a nightmare for opposing defenses.
But Vegas isn’t overwhelmed by the Oilers’ dominant top 6.
Jack Eichel has been key, not just in the regular season but in this playoff run. His 94 points with 66 assists reflect how central he is to everything the Golden Knights do in the offensive zone. Alongside him, Pavel Dorofeyev and William Karlsson have chipped in timely goals as well, including 2 from Karlsson in the last 2 games. This is when the Knights need their depth to step up like they have been.
In Game 3, Edmonton dominated faceoffs with a decent 57.7%, blocked more shots with 17, and even converted a power play opportunity. Yet Vegas stayed aggressive throughout the full 60 minutes, kept the game close, and won by finishing strong. The Golden Knights had only 2 power play chances and still found the net 4 times.
Vegas is averaging 3.11 goals per game this postseason. That’s solid. On top of that, their power play unit is clicking at a big 29.6%. Edmonton, for all their offensive brilliance, is allowing 4.33 goals per game — the highest in the playoffs and not what you’d typically expect from Stuart Skinner. Their PK unit is struggling too, ranking next to last among postseason teams at 62.1%, just above the Kings.
That could be the crack Vegas keeps hammering. Add in the slight edge in goaltending as Adin Hill and his .906 SV% has been more reliable than Stuart Skinner with his .896 SV% and there’s a real path for Vegas to take this game to even it all out before heading back to Edmonton.
Prop bets are some of the most thrilling bets on the board, and if you’re betting on props for this game, the most consistent angle is Jack Eichel’s assist total.
The number is currently set at over 0.5 assists at -135 odds. Eichel has cleared that line in 6 straight playoff games. Whether it’s finding open teammates on the power play or starting rushes off the zone entry, Eichel has become the driving force behind Vegas' playmaking and that might be an understatement.
His postseason log backs this up. Eichel has 10 assists through 9 games in the postseason, including multi-assist nights in Game 2 where he had 3 assists, and Game 6 against Minnesota where he had 2 assists. He’s consistently logging 22+ minutes per game and quarterbacking Vegas’ top-scoring chances.
Even in low-scoring or close games, Eichel's ability to create offense hasn’t once dipped. He assisted on the crucial 2nd-period goal in Game 3 and was on the ice for the game-winner. If Vegas continues to take advantage of Edmonton’s poor PK and shaky defensive zone coverage, you can bet that Eichel will be the one feeding the puck.
Given the trend, the matchup, and the sheer volume of minutes he sees every game, Jack Eichel Over 0.5 Assists at -135 is a smart, data-backed prop bet with some serious value.
Edmonton is dangerous — and there’s no denying that — but their defensive issues and dismal penalty kill unit just might be their undoing. Vegas has found ways to win ugly, but that’s all that matters in the playoffs. They’ve been the more balanced team in this series and have a little bit of an edge in between the pipes.
BettorsInsider’s Prediction: Golden Knights 4, Oilers 3
Best Bet: Golden Knights moneyline at +102
We expect another back-and-forth game for the full 60, but the Golden Knights should come out of it with a 2-2 series tie. The plus money odds are a bonus on this.