In Game 4 of the Western Conference second-round series between Edmonton and Vegas, Golden Knights’ alternate captain Alex Pietrangelo slashed Oilers star Leon Draisaitl while he attempted an empty-net shot late in the third period. This resulted in Pietrangelo earning a five-minute major and game misconduct for his actions against Draisaitl. The Oilers’ captain, Connor McDavid, challenged Pietrangelo following the slash on Draisaitl and expressed his desire for it to be reviewed and suspended. Draisaitl’s teammates also expressed their discontent with the incident and questioned whether Pietrangelo deserves supplemental discipline from the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.
Other Chippy Activity in Game 4
After Pietrangelo made his exit, there was more chippy activity towards the end of Game 4. On the ensuing Oilers’ power play, Darnell Nurse and Nicolas Hague traded fisticuffs, with Nurse getting an instigator penalty that sent him out for the night. Receiving an instigator penalty in the final five minutes is generally an automatic one-game suspension but can be overturned upon review.
Edmonton’s Dominance in Game 4
Despite the chippy activity, the Oilers dominated Game 4 against Vegas, with the final score being 4-1 in Edmonton’s favor. The Oilers have been at their best when special teams are heavily involved, as seen in their 5-1 win in Game 2’s infraction-fueled affair that produced three power-play goals from the Oilers. In contrast, in their 5-1 loss in Game 3, the Oilers went 0-for-2 with an extra man. In Game 4, Edmonton capitalized on their first power-play attempt when Nick Bjugstad beat Adin Hill on a wraparound to give the Oilers a 1-0 lead. Minutes later, Evan Bouchard blasted a shot through traffic to spot the Oilers to a 2-0 advantage less than 10 minutes into the opening frame. Mattias Ekholm added another goal, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins tallied his first goal in 12 games to give the Oilers a 4-0 advantage. Vegas didn’t score until the third period when Nicolas Roy finally solved Stuart Skinner.
Looking Ahead to Game 5
The Oilers’ dominating performance in Game 4 gives them momentum going into Game 5, which will be hosted by the Golden Knights on Friday. The Oilers will look to continue their strong performance, while the Golden Knights will aim to bounce back from their loss.
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