Oilers Game Notes: Challenging road swing begins with Pacific Division showdown in Vegas

After splitting their two home games this week, the Oilers head out on a four-game road trip that will see them face two of the strongest teams in the league.

First up is an important Pacific Division matchup with the Vegas Golden Knights, who would host Edmonton in the first round of the playoffs if the season ended today. After that, the Oilers travel to Colorado and Dallas to face two juggernauts before wrapping up the trip against a retooling St. Louis team.

Edmonton Oilers at Vegas Golden KnightsDate: Sunday, March 8, 2026Start Time: 7:30 PM MTLocation: Las Vegas, NevadaVenue: T-Mobile ArenaWatch: Sportsnet1. Edmonton’s first test against a Stanley Cup contender following the Olympic break came on Friday against the Hurricanes. Carolina spoiled the Oilers debuts of newly-acquired Connor Murphy, Jason Dickinson, and Colton Dach with a dominant road effort and 6-3 victory.

The Oilers haven’t fared well against elite contenders this season, posting a 1-6-2 record against the top five teams in the league standings: Colorado, Dallas, Carolina, Minnesota, and Tampa Bay. Over those nine games, Edmonton has been outscored 43-20. The one victory was on the road against the Hurricanes in mid-November.

2. The Golden Knights finished third in the league last year with a 50-22-10 record, winning the Pacific Division in the regular season before bowing out to the Oilers in five games in the second round of the playoffs.

This year, Vegas has taken a bit of a step back. They’re in the middle of the pack with a 29-20-14 record, buoyed in part by a handful of overtime losses. After finishing 2024-25 fifth in goals and third in goals against, the Golden Knights currently sit 11th and 19th in those same categories.

3. With five wins in six games since the break, the Ducks have jumped into first place in the Pacific Division. Vegas sits one point back with one more game played, while the Golden Knights hold a four-point lead over the Oilers for second with the same number of games played.

As it stands, Vegas would host the Oilers in the first round of the playoffs. Much can change over the final weeks of the season, considering Edmonton faces the Golden Knights three more times and they play the Ducks once more as well, so the Pacific Division crown is very much still up in the air.

4. In the only meeting between the Oilers and Golden Knights so far this season back in December, Edmonton got out to a four-goal lead by the middle of the second period and held on for a 4-3 victory as the visiting team nearly mounted a comeback. Carter Hart allowed four goals on 21 shots in the loss, while Connor Ingram turned aside 28 of 31 shots for the win.

Like the Oilers, the Golden Knights have added reinforcements since their last meeting. Edmonton added Connor Murphy, Jason Dickinson, and Colton Dach to help make the team stronger defensively and improve a struggling penalty kill. Vegas acquired Rasmus Andersson from Calgary in an attempt to shore up the blueline, and they brought in Nic Dowd for some depth down the middle.

5. Keeping the puck out of the net has been Edmonton’s biggest problem as of late. In five games since the Olympic break, the Oilers have allowed 22 goals against, and they have just one regulation victory.

Zooming out further, the Oilers have held their opponent to under three goals just once in their last ten games. That was the 8-1 pounding of the L.A. Kings, which was Edmonton’s largest margin of victory this season. Beyond that, you have to go back to January 20, a 2-1 loss to New Jersey, to find the last time the Oilers allowed fewer than three goals in a game.

6. The Golden Knights have also been scuffling lately, posting a 2-4-0 record in six games since the break. Scoring has been the problem for Vegas. In those two wins, they scored six and four goals. In the four losses, they combined for only six.

Since going on a seven-game winning streak in January, the Golden Knights have just five wins in 15 games.

What they said…

Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch on the team needing to bank wins down the stretch…

“We need to find our game and put together wins. We’ve got 20 games left, and we’re on the brink of not making the playoffs. We can’t wait to find our game in the playoffs, because ultimately, we need to get there. We need to find another gear.”

Goaltender Tristan Jarry after allowing five goals in Edmonton’s loss to Carolina on Saturday…

“I thought I was a little better tonight. Obviously, I think there’s room to improve still. I think I could still do a better job of giving the team a chance. Some unlucky bounces here or there, but I think I could still be better.”

Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel following a loss to the Wild earlier this week…

“We’ve got to build on the things we’re doing well. The things that are costing us games, just try and clean up a little bit. There was a lot to like about our game tonight. But at the same time, we live in a results-based League and weren’t able to find a way to win. That’s the difference.”

Vegas head coach Bruce Cassidy on his team’s defensive performance in their 4-2 loss to Minnesota… 

“We have a veteran D-core. They have to demand a little more of themselves in those situations. They’ve all been in the league. They can play the game. They have composure there. And you know that’s how it got away from us tonight.”

Final word…The Oilers have two very difficult games on this trip against Colorado and Dallas. Those teams handed Edmonton its two worst losses of the season, a 9-1 defeat to the Avalanche and an 8-3 loss to the Stars, both on home ice.

Because of that, the points available at the beginning and end of the trip in Vegas and St. Louis become even more important.