The Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers will face off in Game 4 of their Western Conference Semifinal series on Monday, May 12, 2025, at Rogers Place in Edmonton in what promises to be a critical showdown between two teams with championship aspirations and contrasting hockey philosophies. The Oilers currently lead the series 2-1, but the Golden Knights have regained momentum following a dramatic 4-3 victory in Game 3 that was capped by a buzzer-beating goal from Reilly Smith, shifting the narrative and injecting life into Vegas’s title defense. This series has showcased the battle between Edmonton’s explosive offense, powered by the league’s most dangerous duo in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and the depth, structure, and playoff experience of a Golden Knights squad that has thrived by rolling four lines, tightening up defensively, and getting timely goaltending. While the Oilers’ power play remains a lethal weapon—operating at a league-best 28.29%—Vegas has countered with disciplined penalty killing and strategic zone clears that have neutralized Edmonton’s ability to set up its lethal one-timer formations. Stuart Skinner’s return in goal for the Oilers has been a welcome development, though he remains under pressure after shaky performances earlier in the playoffs and the continued absence of Calvin Pickard due to injury; Skinner’s ability to control rebounds and stay composed will be tested by Vegas’s net-front traffic and quick puck movement from the likes of Jack Eichel, Jonathan Marchessault, and Chandler Stephenson.

Meanwhile, the Golden Knights will look to continue leaning on Adin Hill, who has provided stability in goal with sharp positioning and poised saves that have frustrated Edmonton’s usually fluid attack, and whose ability to stop breakaways and odd-man rushes has kept Vegas in close games. Defensively, Vegas relies on the physical and composed presence of Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore, who have effectively limited McDavid’s time and space, forcing him to the outside and reducing high-danger scoring chances. Offensively, Vegas doesn’t have the top-end firepower of Edmonton but thrives on scoring by committee, with players like William Karlsson and Ivan Barbashev contributing in clutch moments and the bottom six chipping in with gritty forechecking and defensive responsibility. With Game 4 being played in front of a raucous Rogers Place crowd, Edmonton will aim to reassert control early by establishing the pace, drawing penalties, and capitalizing on the man advantage while keeping Vegas from grinding the game down with smart puck possession and low-risk entries. Statistically, the OVER has not been as frequent in this building as expected given the firepower, with four of the last five meetings in Edmonton staying UNDER the total—an indication that these teams tend to lock things down when stakes are high. With Vegas needing to win to avoid falling into a 3-1 series hole and Edmonton seeking to take a commanding lead before heading back to T-Mobile Arena, Game 4 has all the makings of a heavyweight chess match, where special teams, goaltending poise, and late-game execution may prove decisive in determining who seizes momentum in this razor-tight series.