Knights end season with ‘disappointing’ OT loss to Oilers in Game 5

Alex Pietrangelo, in clear pain and likely battling multiple injuries, used the same word at least three times to describe the end of the Golden Knights’ season.

“Disappointing,” the veteran defenseman said.

The Knights played an almost flawless game defensively Wednesday night against the Edmonton Oilers at T-Mobile Arena. They gave up few dangerous looks. They made the Oilers work for their chances.

Perhaps it was then fitting that the game’s only goal came from Edmonton jamming home a loose puck in front of the net.

The goal, which came from right wing Kasperi Kapanen 7:19 into overtime, ended the Knights season and began a summer of what could have beens. The Oilers won Game 5 of their second-round series 1-0 in front of an announced crowd of 18,288 to advance to the Western Conference Final.

Kapanen, who was a healthy scratch the first three games of the series, got his stick on the puck after a shot from defenseman John Klingberg. The puck ended up on the left side of the crease with defensemen Brayden McNabb and Shea Theodore crowding the blue paint to prevent it from going into the net.

It was too late.

The Knights lost in overtime for the second time this series, with both defeats coming at home. They also finished 0-3 against Edmonton at T-Mobile Arena to lose in the second round for the first time in franchise history.

“Didn’t start the way we wanted to,” Pietrangelo said. “Getting down the first couple of games, it’s always hard to come from behind.”

It was a tough finish to a season that had promise. The Knights won 50 regular-season games for the second time in three years and won their fourth Pacific Division title.

“Any time you have a good team, you just feel like you didn’t really finish what you set out to do. We got a hell of a team, hell of a locker room,” Pietrangelo said. “It’s disappointing. It’s a hard league to win in, and we know that. We knew that going in.”

Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner made 24 saves to post his second consecutive shutout.

Goaltender Adin Hill made 31 saves in the loss. He was supported by a strong defensive performance even though the Knights played without captain Mark Stone, who was out of the lineup after suffering an upper-body injury in Game 3.

No captain

The team packed the defensive zone without one of the NHL’s top two-way forwards. But the Knights’ defensive intensity didn’t lead to many chances on offense. They didn’t test Skinner much.

The Knights missed the net 14 times, a common theme for them throughout the series.

“Today, the response was excellent physically,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Super proud of the guys the way they came out, committed to playing the right way. I thought we had pockets of really good hockey.”

The Oilers had the game’s first two power plays, but the Knights’ penalty killers came through and improved to 10-for-11 in the series.

Both teams had chances early in the third period. Left wing Brett Howden, moved up to the top line with Stone out, shot wide with an empty net in front of him after a great pass from center Jack Eichel.

Oilers center Leon Draisaitl got a breakaway the same shift, but Hill turned him aside. Hill also stopped center Connor McDavid on a two-on-one with 1:07 remaining in regulation.

Strong effort

The Knights did a good job slowing Edmonton’s superstars throughout the series.

McDavid had one goal and five assists, while Draisaitl had two goals and four assists. Edmonton advanced thanks to its depth. The Oilers outscored the Knights 14-7 at five-on-five in the series.

“They’re a hungry team,” Cassidy said. “I don’t care what the standings were at the end of the year. I thought it was two pretty evenly-matched teams.”

Depth carried the Knights to the Stanley Cup two years ago, a journey that included a six-game series win over the Oilers in the second round.

They couldn’t get over that same hurdle this season.

“Every year you don’t win, it feels like a year wasted,” center William Karlsson said. “I believe in this team. We got knocked out. Hopefully in a few days I’ll look forward to next year.”

Contact Danny Webster at [email protected]. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.