Playoff Race: Golden Knights retreat, Oilers falter without McDavid and Draisaitl
The NHL playoff race in recent weeks has been nothing short of thrilling, with teams battling for the most coveted spots in the postseason. Two teams that have garnered significant attention in this heated race are the Vegas Golden Knights and the Edmonton Oilers, whose fortunes have taken unexpected turns recently, especially in the absence of star players. The Golden Knights, who were once cruising atop the standings, have encountered difficulties as the regular season nears its conclusion, while the Oilers have faltered significantly due to injuries to key players like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Both teams’ performances are pivotal in the final stretch of the regular season as they strive to secure playoff positions.
Golden Knights: The Retreat
The Vegas Golden Knights started the 2024-2025 season with high expectations, and for much of the year, they lived up to them. With a roster boasting of depth, talent, and experience, including the presence of veteran goaltender Jonathan Quick and dynamic forwards like Jack Eichel and Mark Stone, they appeared to be in a strong position for a deep playoff run. However, as the calendar flipped to March and April, the Golden Knights’ once-promising position in the standings began to slip away.
Their recent struggles can be attributed to a variety of factors, from injuries to inconsistency in both offensive and defensive play. Goaltending, which had been a significant strength for the team early in the season, began to show cracks, with Quick and backup goaltender Laurent Brossoit failing to replicate their previous form. Quick’s experience is invaluable in high-pressure situations, but his age and inconsistent performances have raised questions about whether he’s the right man for the job in the postseason.
Meanwhile, the Knights’ offense, which had been clicking earlier in the year, has not been able to maintain the same level of consistency. Jack Eichel, the team’s centerpiece forward, has continued to show flashes of brilliance, but his production has been streaky. In the absence of Stone, who has been battling injuries, the team has struggled to maintain a potent offense. The lack of secondary scoring has been a noticeable issue, as other forwards have failed to step up and support Eichel’s efforts.
Defensively, the Golden Knights have seen a decline in the overall reliability of their back end. The departure of key defensemen in recent seasons, as well as injuries to others, has created a gap that the team has not been able to fill adequately. While their blue line still features solid players like Shea Theodore and Alex Pietrangelo, it has not been as dominant as in previous years. As a result, the Golden Knights have allowed more goals than they would have liked, and their defensive zone coverage has been problematic at times.
The biggest blow to their playoff hopes, however, may have been their failure to execute in key matchups against divisional opponents. Las Vegas dropped several games against teams in the Pacific Division, including losses to the California-based teams like the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks. These losses have allowed competitors to close the gap in the standings, placing the Golden Knights’ playoff position in jeopardy.
As the season winds down, the Golden Knights are facing a tough challenge to secure a top-four finish in the Pacific Division. With teams like the Kings, Flames, and Canucks on their heels, every game has become crucial for the Knights to avoid slipping into a wild-card position or, worse, missing the postseason entirely. The next few weeks will be critical, and whether the Golden Knights can find their form again will likely determine their fate.
Oilers: Fading Without McDavid and Draisaitl
On the other side of the coin is the Edmonton Oilers, who, after a strong start to the season, are now fighting to maintain a playoff spot in the wake of injuries to their two biggest stars, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The Oilers have long been known for their offensive firepower, driven by the incredible talent of McDavid, widely regarded as the best player in the world, and Draisaitl, who has been one of the most prolific goal-scorers in the league in recent years. However, the loss of both players has exposed the limitations of the Oilers’ roster.
McDavid, the reigning Hart Trophy winner, is a player who can singlehandedly change the course of a game. His speed, vision, and offensive creativity make him an unparalleled force on the ice. However, after suffering an injury in a mid-season game, McDavid has missed significant time, and the Oilers’ offense has struggled to maintain the same level of potency. Without McDavid’s magic, the Oilers have found themselves sputtering, especially in the crucial moments when they need to generate offense.
Draisaitl, while not as electrifying as McDavid, is an exceptional player in his own right. A powerful goal-scorer with an elite hockey IQ, Draisaitl has been a key cog in the Oilers’ attack. However, with McDavid out of the lineup, Draisaitl has been forced to shoulder a heavier burden. Unfortunately, even he has not been immune to injury, further compounding the Oilers’ problems. Without their two superstars, the Oilers’ depth has been exposed. Players like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman, while valuable, are not enough to carry the team without McDavid and Draisaitl driving the offense.
What makes this situation even more concerning for the Oilers is their reliance on a high-powered offense. The Oilers have always been a team that leans heavily on their offensive production to win games, but their defensive play and goaltending have never been strong enough to carry them when the offense falters. This has been particularly evident in recent weeks as the Oilers have allowed far too many goals. Goaltender Jack Campbell, once thought to be the answer in net, has struggled with consistency, and backup Stuart Skinner has been inconsistent at best. Without McDavid and Draisaitl leading the charge offensively, the Oilers have had a tough time keeping up in high-scoring games, and their defensive weaknesses have been laid bare.
While the Oilers have some talented offensive pieces like Evander Kane, Ryan McLeod, and Kailer Yamamoto, none of them have been able to replicate the same level of production that McDavid and Draisaitl bring to the table. The Oilers have been forced to lean on secondary scoring, which has often been lacking. The team’s power play, which is one of the best in the league when both McDavid and Draisaitl are in the lineup, has also suffered in their absence, as teams have been able to focus on limiting the Oilers’ offensive chances without the two stars drawing attention.
As a result, the Oilers have seen their once-secure playoff position slip into uncertainty. They are now fighting to remain in the playoff race, with the Flames, Kings, and even the Canucks breathing down their necks. A team that was once in contention for the top spot in the Pacific Division is now scrambling to ensure they secure a wild-card spot in the postseason.
The Importance of the Final Stretch
For both the Golden Knights and the Oilers, the final stretch of the regular season is pivotal. Both teams have the talent to make deep playoff runs, but they need to address their weaknesses and find ways to win games in the absence of key contributors. For the Golden Knights, this means getting back to their defensive-first mentality and finding consistency in net. They need to prove that they can withstand the pressure and elevate their game when it matters most.
For the Oilers, the situation is more urgent. They need McDavid and Draisaitl back in the lineup as soon as possible, and even then, they will need to show that they can compete at a high level without fully relying on their stars. Secondary scoring will need to step up, and their defense will have to improve if they want to remain a playoff contender.
Both teams have talented rosters, but whether they can capitalize on that talent in the final weeks of the regular season will determine their playoff fate. The NHL’s playoff race is one of the most unpredictable and thrilling in professional sports, and these two teams’ journeys will be watched closely as they fight to secure their spot in the postseason. In the end, it’s not just about the stars but also how the rest of the roster steps up in crucial moments. Both the Golden Knights and Oilers will need to find their form again if they want to make a push for the Stanley Cup.