Series highlights: Golden Knights push Oilers to the wall

Last night was game number 5 in the National Hockey League, with the Maple Leafs once again facing elimination against the Florida Panthers.

Here’s what happened in those two games.

1. Golden Knights one win away from eliminating Oilers

Game 5 of a series always represents a turning point in a series, especially when the series is tied.

It’s a game you have to win to push your opponents over the edge for the rest of the series, and that’s exactly what the Golden Knights did last night.

Bruce Cassidy’s team beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 to take a 3-2 series lead.

It wasn’t an easy game, but their three goals in 90 seconds late in the second period were the key to victory.

The @GoldenKnights came to play in the second period. 😮‍💨 #StanleyCup

Vegas got goals from Mark Stone, Reilly Smith, and Nicolas Hague 89 seconds apart to take a two-goal lead!

🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT ➡️ https://t.co/oaJG9t1U2v #NHLonTNT
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/c0FJF22IZL pic.twitter.com/m24CghLRCk

– NHL (@NHL) May 13, 2023

Ivan Barbashev’s reaction to the Knights’ fourth goal.

Barbashev’s reaction to Hague’s goal >>> pic.twitter.com/jQ5bNqwmT7

– z – Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) May 13, 2023

The Oilers, or rather Connor McDavid, found a way to close the gap early in the third period, but it came to nothing in the end.

Just Connor McDavid(@cmcdavid97) going for a casual stroll in the offensive zone… 🚶‍♂️ #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT ➡️ https://t.co/oaJG9t1U2v #NHLonTNT
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/c0FJF22IZL pic.twitter.com/1QjRJvGykb

– NHL (@NHL) May 13, 2023

The Oilers, whose three goals were scored on the power play, will have to find a way to score goals outside their 5-man attack, because otherwise they won’t win this series.

Game 6 takes place on Sunday in Edmonton.

The Golden Knights lead the series 3-2.

2. Panthers send Leafs golfing

And to think it was former Montreal Canadiens Nick Cousins who sent the Leafs on vacation.

Here’s Radko Gudas’ reaction after the winning goal.

There’s a little joy in that.

My colleague Médérick Lefebvre wrote an excellent analysis of the Leafs’ defeat.

The Panthers won 3-2 in overtime last night, putting an end to Toronto’s hopes.

Paul Maurice’s team will now face the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final.

Overtime

– Here are yesterday’s results.

The @FlaPanthers became the second team to advance to the 2023 Conference Finals while the @GoldenKnights earned a comeback victory to move within one win of a berth in the next round. #StanleyCup#NHLStats: https://t.co/R8up3wdOjh pic.twitter.com/SPl4C6Hr7m

– NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 13, 2023

– Here are yesterday’s top scorers.