Despite facing a 3–1 hole in his best seven-seven Western Conference Second-Round Series, Vegas Golden Nights is not lacking in the game 5 of Wednesday night against Edmonton Olers in Las Vegas.
“We did it the last series,” Vegas asked Reli Smith to win three straight games. “We have great faith in this group. Just take one at a time.”
Golden Nights ralled a 2–1 losses to knock the Minnesota Wild in six matches in the first round, winning two of the last three matches in overtime.
This time the difference is that there is no place for error against the Edmonton team which is 15-2 in the game 4-7 in the last two playoffs.
“It does now or dies,” said the Nights Star Center Jack Echil.
Olers won game 1 and 2 in Las Vegas, before Golden Nights held rallies to win 4–3 in Edmonton, winning a Smith with 0.4 seconds on a Smith goal. Olers on Monday sparked Blanc Vegas back 3–0 in game 4 from the loss of that bitter as goalkeeper Stuart Skinner separated 23 shots for his second career playoff shutout.
The game was not so close. Adam Heinrich first scored twice at 13:03 and Evander Kane made it 3–0 3–0 with a goal in the second period 3–0. Through the game, Vegas had only 10 shots on the target.
No wonder Golden Nights, who lagged 2–0 behind the game 3, are emphasizing the importance of a quick start on Wednesday.
Vegas coach Bruce Cassidi said, “We have to start better.” “This is now a couple game where we are following it. … Make sure we are on our toes. I don’t think there were enough players on their toes, ready to go. It will be a step in the game 5, make sure we push the envelope quickly and get our game quickly.”
“We were probably a little passive and did not put them enough on our heel,” Echell said. “I think we need to be aggressively more aggressive, try to force them to make mistakes on your breakout and bring the puck back, and then when we have opportunities, play, and get the puck on the net.”
Edmonton’s coach Chris Nobblech was asked about the importance of trying to close the series on Wednesday.
“I don’t think we’re seeing how many games we have left in the series,” Nobooch said. “This is a one-game mentality. (Later) We lost the game 3 the way we had done it and was moving on the next one. Obviously, there are many benefits of winning the next game. One, you do not give the opportunity to Vegas that puts a string of victory together.”
Nobooch gave its team a day off before flying to Las Vegas on Tuesday.
“There is no meeting today,” Nobelach said. “As a coach, you can only do so. You don’t want to overcoch. I think today is a good day for people who enjoy winning last night, and tomorrow they will get the message that we need to do what we need to do.”
This message is evident for Golden Nights.
“You are at home, game 5,” Echell said. “You win a game and go from there. It all matters at this point.”
-Bield level media
