When the puck dropped at Rogers Place on Sunday night, all eyes were on Connor McDavid and the streaking Edmonton Oilers as they squared off against the Vegas Golden Knights in a clash that promised fireworks—and delivered every bit of the hype. Coming off tough Saturday losses, both teams were hungry for a turnaround, but it was Edmonton that found their spark and seized the moment, edging Vegas 4-3 in front of a roaring home crowd.
The Oilers entered the contest with a 17-13-6 record, riding a wave of momentum that’s seen them collect points in seven of their last nine games. Their captain, Connor McDavid, was on a tear, carrying a nine-game point streak with 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) into the matchup. “Connor McDavid is on fire, and the Vegas Golden Knights are about to feel the heat,” wrote Deepanjan Mitra, capturing the anticipation swirling around the NHL’s top scorer. As it turned out, McDavid wasn’t about to cool off just yet.
The Golden Knights, meanwhile, were missing key pieces—leading scorer Jack Eichel and defenseman Shea Theodore were both sidelined. Vegas had just been handed a 6-3 defeat by the Calgary Flames the night before and were eager to bounce back. Pavel Dorofeyev, leading the Knights with 14 goals, and Mitch Marner, who’s stepped up in Eichel’s absence with 34 points, looked to shoulder the offensive load. In net, Carter Hart—fresh off having his NHL suspension lifted—got the start for Vegas, hoping to steady a ship that had lost its way in recent outings.
From the opening faceoff, Edmonton set the tone. They struck first, and that’s been a recipe for success all season—the Oilers improved to a remarkable 15-1-3 when opening the scoring. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins wasted little time making his mark, notching the first of his two goals and setting the stage for a night where Edmonton’s stars would shine.
McDavid, relentless as ever, extended his personal point streak to 10 games with a goal and two assists, bringing his December tally to a staggering 26 points (12 goals, 14 assists). His linemate, Leon Draisaitl, continued his own hot run, picking up two assists and pushing his streak to nine points in his last ten games—albeit with an uncharacteristically low two goals but an impressive 19 assists. Zach Hyman added to the onslaught, scoring a goal and registering an assist, while Darnell Nurse’s slick feed set up Hyman’s ninth of the season, giving Edmonton a commanding 4-0 lead midway through the second period.
“Edmonton’s dynamic duo is on fire at the moment as the two top point-getters in the league in December,” noted The Canadian Press, underscoring just how dominant McDavid and Draisaitl have been. And it’s not just the offense that’s been clicking. The Oilers’ defense has tightened up, and while Calvin Pickard has improved in net, it was Connor Ingram who got the nod for his Oilers debut. Ingram, who spent last season with Utah and has been working his way back after entering the NHL/NHLPA Players Assistance Program in March 2025, delivered a gutsy performance with 26 saves, earning his first NHL win of the season. His journey back to the NHL spotlight added an extra layer of drama to Edmonton’s victory.
For Vegas, the night was a test of resilience. Tomas Hertl, Pavel Dorofeyev, and Mitch Marner found the back of the net, with Noah Hanifin chipping in three assists. But the Knights’ push came too late. Mark Stone, who had been nearly automatic with at least a point in 14 of his first 16 games, was held without a point for just the second time all season—a testament to Edmonton’s improved defensive focus.
Despite the late surge, Vegas couldn’t quite erase the four-goal deficit. Carter Hart, making his return to Canadian ice after being acquitted of charges related to the 2018 World Junior Championships, stopped 17 shots but was left exposed too often by a defense missing Theodore. The loss marked the third straight defeat for the Golden Knights, dropping their record to 16-8-10. The team will look to regroup as they prepare to host the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday.
The Oilers, meanwhile, are starting to look every bit the Stanley Cup contenders they were projected to be. With McDavid and Draisaitl leading the charge and supporting players like Nugent-Hopkins and Hyman stepping up, Edmonton is finally finding the consistency that eluded them early in the season. “The Oilers have consistently found ways to exploit Vegas and come out on top when these two teams meet,” observed Mitra, referencing Edmonton’s dominance over Vegas since the 2021-22 season—a stretch that’s seen the Oilers win 10 of 15 matchups.
The psychological edge is real, and Sunday’s win only reinforced it. But it’s the team’s overall growth that has fans buzzing. The Oilers have gone 7-2-1 in their last ten games, and with McDavid continuing to produce at a video game pace—even as opponents throw everything at him—Edmonton is proving they have the depth and determination to weather adversity. When teams overcommit to shutting down McDavid, Draisaitl and the supporting cast are more than capable of picking up the slack.
As the final horn sounded, the Oilers had secured their third win in four games, moving to 18-13-6 on the season. The home crowd celebrated not just a victory, but a team that’s rediscovered its swagger at a crucial juncture in the playoff race. For Vegas, the road doesn’t get any easier, but the return of Eichel and Theodore can’t come soon enough if they hope to snap their losing skid.
Looking ahead, the Oilers will host the Calgary Flames on Tuesday in what’s sure to be another heated Battle of Alberta, while the Golden Knights return to home ice against the Sharks. With McDavid’s streak alive and Edmonton clicking on all cylinders, the rest of the league has been put on notice—these Oilers are for real, and they’re just getting started.
