The Vegas Golden Knights were tied 4-4 in overtime of Game 2 against the Edmonton Oilers, but due to a missed call, instead of finding themselves on the power play, they exited T-Mobile Arena down 2-0 in the series.
The Golden Knights had just killed a five-minute power play after Nicolas Roy bizarrely cross-checked Trent Frederic in the face while trying to knock the puck out of the air. With momentum on their side, the Golden Knights continued their pursuit of finding the game-winner. When the puck was dumped into Brayden McNabb's corner, he shielded off Victor Ardvinsson, but an errant stick tripped McNabb, sending him into the boards.
It took the 34-year-old a couple of seconds to gather himself and skate to the bench after the collision with the boards. He went directly to the locker room and did not return. Almost unbelievably, no call was made on the play and on the ensuing shift, Connor McDavid set up Leon Draisaitl for the game-winner.
MCDAVID TO DRAISAITL đš
â NHL (@NHL) May 9, 2025
Connor McDavid makes a beautiful move to set up Leon Draisaitl for the @Energizer overtime winner in Game 2! #StanleyCuppic.twitter.com/DkMXp2kuhw
"He blew it, he missed the call, I don't know what else to say," said HC Bruce Cassidy. "It's a can-opener trip, it's a dangerous play, it's all those things, but it didn't get called, so you've got to keep playing."
Cassidy wasn't the only member of the Golden Knights to be outraged, as his emotions were reciprocated by the team's captain.
"Pretty clear it's a penalty," said Mark Stone. "His stick is between McNabb's legs, he sends him head first into the boards, pretty clear cut penalty in my eyes and I think everybody's eyes."
Although the Golden Knights felt they got the short end of the stick in overtime, already down in the series, they needed to find a way to remain focused and pull out the win. The opposite was done. Just 17 seconds later, an ill-advised pinch by Nicolas Hague put Jack Eichel in a one-on-one situation with McDavid, where he was beaten easily.
"Nabber is one of our guys, probably one of the most popular teammates in the room, so that is a tough part of playing through it," said Cassidy. "It's not as easy as it looks, we're human, but at the end of the day, that's the task in front of you when those things happen or don't happen."
Cassidy did not have any updates on the health of McNabb following the game.
With the series shifting to Edmonton, some may feel the series has already slipped out of the grasp for the Golden Knights. The Oilers are on a six-game winning streak, which includes a perfect 3-0 record at home in the postseason. But just last season, the Golden Knights stole two games back-to-back on the road from the Dallas Stars.
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