The Oilers meet a Game 1 they liked

Game 1s haven’t always been kind to the Edmonton Oilers.

Across the 14 playoff series the team has played in the McDavid-Draisaitl era, they’ve been a shocking 3-11 in the first game of that series. To put it lightly, they’ve never met one they liked.

That is, until Tuesday night’s Game 1 against the Vegas Golden Knights, roaring from a 2-0 deficit to win 4-2, becoming the first team in NHL history to secure five straight come-from-behind wins in a single playoffs.

Mark Stone opened the scoring with a pair of goals in the first period — one 2:13 into the game with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins serving a double-minor for high-sticking, and another at the 9:03 mark of the frame.

But from there, the Oilers were able to roar back.

Corey Perry broke it open late in the first period as the Oilers started to flip the script, only to come out in the second and third periods and hound the Golden Knights as they did the Los Angeles Kings in the first round.

Goals from Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman and Connor Brown would secure the win as the Oilers ripped home ice advantage from Vegas’ grasp.

“I think our start was a little hectic — a four-minute penalty and getting down by two — but we stuck to our gameplan and found a way,” said Perry after the game. “We came here to win hockey games, and we found a win tonight.

“I think after (Stone’s goals), we settled in and played our style of game and it’s great that we can come back, but it would be nice to get on the other side of things and push forward with the lead at one point.”

It wasn’t as if the Oilers had a awful start to the game. Stone’s power play marker was a deflection in front, while his second came on a defensive breakdown. What made the win so impressive was how the Oilers were never shaken by the goals against, instead finding a way to elevate their game and dictate the pace the rest of the way.

While both teams were tied up in shots 10-10 after one, Edmonton outshot Vegas a whopping 12-1 in the second period, and though the shot count was tied at six aside in the third, it never felt as if the Golden Knights had a path to a breakthrough.

“The forecheck was good, but obviously they’re going to get out of the zone sometimes,” said defenceman John Klingberg. “I think we had a good reload on the forwards, so that helps the D keep a good gap, and then we’re having an easier time breaking out the puck.

“When you control the puck like that in the second period, you’re containing a lot of energy with changes and all that. I think we’re a patient group, a veteran team — the guys here have been playing a lot of playoffs throughout the years, they know what it takes, so just stick to our game and take it game by game.”

And take it game by game, they have with memories of goldfish.

That’s going to continue to pay dividends for the team as they progress through the playoffs. While there have undoubtedly been more stressful moments the Oilers have put themselves in than not, they’ve kept finding a way to elevate themselves when it matters, outscoring teams 18-6 in the third period and in overtime during these playoffs.

“You see the fluctuation of games — just look at the last four nights in the NHL, look at our playoffs, all the games — there’s been so many come from behinds, fluctuation of scores,” said Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch. “Yes, we’d like to get a better start. The first goal is to cruise from there.

“We know that’s not the case, but I think if you can pick a period you can be the strongest in, as a coach, you want to be the best in the third period, because that’s where it’s going to come down to, and I’ve been very happy with our third periods.”

The Oilers will look to steal another game on the road in Vegas Thursday night, before returning home to Edmonton for Games 3 and 4 on Saturday and Monday night.

READ MORE: ‘It’s going to be a revenge series’: Fans hoping Oilers will have a different result against Golden Knights