The 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs saw a highly-contested battle between the Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers. Here's a look at that heated matchup.
Remember the 2023 second-round matchup between the Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers? Remember how the fans hated each other after the series? The contest featured many storylines, from Connor McDavid vs. Jack Eichel to Evander Kane blowing kisses to the crowd. Alex Pietrangelo was slashing Leon Draisaitl in the fourth game, where he was suspended for one game.
Ultimately, the Golden Knights won the series in six games, ending the Oilers's chances of ending Canada's Stanley Cup drought. Las Vegas knows what happened after as they had the biggest party in Toshiba Plaza history.
Fans were celebrating, friends were made, and everyone gave high fives. The story was complete, and the Golden Knights were on top of the world. Nobody saw an expansion team make two Stanley Cup Final appearances and win a Stanley Cup. Yet, the Golden Knights did it. Of course, it wouldn't have happened without getting past the Oilers in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
But back to the second-round matchup for a second. It featured numerous storylines that kickstarted an underrated NHL rivalry. The Golden Knights were a controversial team many people either hated or loved for their success. The Oilers had McDavid and Draisaitl leading the way. Here's a look at what made the series noteworthy.
Evander Kane
When the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights play each other, the attention turns to Connor McDavid vs. Jack Eichel. The matchup features two of the best hockey players in the world facing off. What more could you ask for as an NHL fan?
However, the series was also known for a lesser-known player blowing kisses to the Las Vegas crowd. His name? Evander Kane.
The second game of the series saw a Golden Knights fan flipping double birds to the Oilers forward. Kane proceeded to blow kisses to the fan, adding insult to injury. The Golden Knights would lose Game 2, 5-1.
Kane would become public enemy number one in Las Vegas, acting as an antagonist throughout the series. However, the former first-round pick didn't impact the series much; he only had one assist, which came in the series finale.
Kane will always hold a special place in the Golden Knights-Oilers rivalry. He's annoyed Vegas in every game, delivering punishing hits and antagonizing the fans. The 2023 matchup will cement his legacy as the series agitator, making him a marked man in Las Vegas.
Alex Pietrangelo's slash on Leon Draisaitl
The other Oilers win in the series came in Game 4, where they blew out the Golden Knights, 4-1. It also saw Alex Pietrangelo deliver a scary slash on Leon Draisaitl, which drew a one-game suspension.
It drew the ire of Oilers and hockey fans alike, for it was seen as a frustrated Pietrangelo acting as a sore loser. It didn't help that the Golden Knights would lose their top defenseman for a critical home matchup against their heated rivals. However, the Golden Knights would win Game 5 (and eventually, the series), 4-3.
Still, the slash would add more drama and suspense to the series. Could the Golden Knights survive without their elite defenseman? Did Pietrangelo deserve more than one game for the slash? It made that fifth game much more noteworthy, especially since it was tighter.
But that game showed how the Golden Knights could pick up the slack with a teammate gone. Jack Eichel scored a goal and two assists while Jonathan Marchessault added three assists. That would also be how they'd win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
That's how fans will remember that series, too. It would catapult them past the Dallas Stars, using some overtime magic to secure two early wins. Then, it was an easy trip against the Florida Panthers, with the party happening on the Las Vegas Strip. Wednesday's game could be the precursor to bringing that party back to Sin City in June.
