The Edmonton Oilers begin their second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday night.

You can watch the game on Sportsnet & CBC or listen live on the Oilers Radio Network, including 630 CHED.

Subscribe to Oilers+ to unlock the Pre-Game Show that will begin at 7:30 p.m. MT, along with more exclusive live and behind-the-scenes content.

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VIEWING INFORMATION

You can watch Wednesday's game on Sportsnet & CBC 360 at 7:30 PM MT.

INSIDE THE OILERS

News and notes from Inside The Oilers ahead of the start of their second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday night.

READ MORE IN THE INSIDE THE OILERS BLOG

PRE-GAME REPORT

LAS VEGAS, NV- Two gladiators from the Pacific Division enter, but only one will move on.

Game 1 of the second-round series between the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Playoffs will be waged on Wednesday at T-Mobile Arena, with the series expected to be a fascinating one when you look at how close they finished in the regular season, how they fared in the first round, and how they'll stack up against one another over a seven-game series.

"At this point in the playoffs, every team is [skilled]," centre Nick Bjugstad said. "I think everyone's got skill, everyone's ready to play, but it comes down to execution. We've had a few days to prepare for that and we've played them a lot.

"We know who they got over there, they know who we have, so like I said, it's going to come down to execution and I'm sure both teams will bring effort."

There will be no feeling-out period between these two sides after going toe-to-toe over the final leg of the regular season for the Pacific Division title that Vegas came away with after finishing two points ahead of the Oilers and handing Edmonton their only defeat in their last 15 regular-season games (14-0-1).

The two divisional rivals competed for the Pacific crown over an 82-game schedule and now find themselves reunited in the second round after both were able to put together win streaks of three games or more to erase Game 1 defeats, with Vegas eliminating the Winnipeg Jets in five games.

The Oilers spent a few extra days in California recuperating and regrouping for their short flight over to Nevada on Tuesday to face the Golden Knights tonight in the coliseum that is T-Mobile Arena, which will once again generate plenty of noise from fans of both Edmonton and Vegas.

One thing that you'll notice around Sin City this week is that there's a lot of Blue & Orange walking the strip that made their way down to Vegas to cheer on the Oilers.

Vegas owns a deep four-line forward group led by elite options in Jack Eichel and Mark Stone, along with a strong D-corps anchored by Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore, that will pose a formidable challenge to Edmonton's defensive approach that will centre around stifling their momentum moving up ice and outworking the Golden Knights in their own zone.

"They're a quick transition team and pretty deep as far as offensively, so we've got to make sure we're ready in the defensive zone and lock that down," Bjugstad said. "We've got to have the same mentality coming into this building, It's a loud building and you've got to be prepared and ready for that in terms of their depth and their team game."

For Darnell Nurse, the Oilers defenceman is relishing the assignment of shutting down a stingy group in the Golden Knights who'll present challenged with their forechecking, physicality and all-around ability.

"Yeah, looking forward to it. Our role is to shut down the top players on their team, so it's going to be a tall task," he said. "It's a really good team that has a lot of firepower, but for us, it's what we're looking forward to at this time of the year. You want that pressure and you want to be able to perform and help."

Edmonton's power play has been running exceptionally hot through the first round of the playoffs, and continuing on that 9-for-15 trend with the man advantage from their series against the Kings will be an important factor in their success. Conversely, the Golden Knights staying out of the penalty box will be critical, and they have the pedigree to play disciplined hockey after taking the fewest amount of penalties in the regular season.

Stopping No. 97 and No. 29 will be no easy feat for Vegas, but they'll believe that they have the personnel to do it even if Head Coach Jay Woodcroft elects to split the Dynamic Duo to drive their own separate lines. If that happens, Edmonton will hope to see their depth options rise to the occasion to break through with more offensive contributions like they did in the first round, and that some bigger names like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman can find ways to pitch in a bit more on the scoresheet.

The Oilers arrive ready for the second round with a sense of calmness and professionalism in the room, with most of their roster having been through this same type of series last season against the Calgary Flames.

"Yeah, there's definitely a calm to it," Nurse said. "I think obviously to be more comfortable in these situations, you have to have exposure to these situations, and our group here is starting to put together some more playoff experience being in these high-pressure situations.

"For me on a personal level, it's just coming in to just play. There's going to be a heightened sense of urgency and a little more jam in the building from the fans and whatnot, but at the end of the day, you just go out there and play."

SKINNER'S ETERNAL OPTIMISM

For a rookie netminder in the National Hockey League, your first shot at playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs can be a daunting one.

With every success and misfortune, Stuart Skinner took it all in stride.

The Edmonton, AB product went through a laundry list of new experiences against the Los Angeles Kings that he's grateful to have been able to live through in the hopes that they'll make him a better goaltender and an even better person.

The 24-year-old had a firm understanding of the physical requirement needed in the postseason after starting 48 games for the Oilers in the regular season and winning 29 games -- the most for an Oilers rookie netminder in franchise history; but mentally, a lot of that had to be lived and learned in real-time action.

"Yeah, I learned a lot on just the mental side of things. I think there are a lot of distractions that can be around you, and a lot of pressure if you focus on that pressure. I think that every game was so different. "

"It was fun to go through all that for my first playoff round in the NHL -- being able to lose an OT game and learning how to come back from that and get a win the next day, breaking a stick and letting the empty-net goal go in, and being able to understand how it works."

Last Saturday's unfortunate snapped stick that led to an easy Phillip Danault tally that tied Game 6 in the third period is a perfect example of how Skinner views letting in goals of any fashion and how he responds to them.

"It's just a goal just like any other goal, so might as well bounce back and do my thing and always try to just give the team a chance to win," he said. "I just learned a lot about myself. I learned a lot about how hard it is to win a playoff series, and I'm excited to hopefully do that another time here."

For Skinner, it's an approach to being a professional goaltender that's just grown to work for him over his years improving in the ECHL, AHL and now with the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL.

"I think it works for me," he said. "It goes along with just the experiences that I've had in my life and how I was raised. Everyone's so different in the way that the experiences they've had [have impacted them], and I've had a lot of gratifying experiences in my life where you can look at it as half-empty or half-full.

"I like to be an optimist."

The rookie netminder's approach impresses even some of the more veteran players in Edmonton's locker room.

"I think he brings a real calming presence to the group for someone going through technically his rookie season," Nurse said. "He's kind of wise beyond his years, and you've got to catch yourself sometimes that this guy hasn't been playing in the League for 10 years just with the way brings himself to the rink and his approach. He has that confidence that if things don't go well, so be it."

BJUGSTAD MAKING ROUND-TWO DEBUT

At 30 years old, centre Nick Bjugstad is making his first foray into the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

"I think in the moment after winning the series the other night, you have 20-30 minutes where you're going: 'It finally happened,'" he said. "But then you move on and you realize there's another series to win, and then another one, and another one.

"It's a long process, and it's just fun to be a part of that challenge and trying to climb the mountain with these guys."

Bjugstad, a first-round pick of the Florida Panthers in 2010, might not have expected to take this long to make his Round 2 debut, but the Minneapolis, MN product is just thankful that the opportunity arose before the NHL Trade Deadline for him to jump on a contender in the Oilers and make meaningful impacts like his first pair of playoff goals in their Game 5 victory over Los Angeles.

"I don't know what I thought when I got drafted, honestly, but I think that's what we play for," he said. "So like I said, it's fortunate that I jumped on such a team with such a good group of guys and I can help these guys in whatever way they want. These playoffs, nothing better."

Bjugstad didn't suit up for any playoff games for the Minnesota Wild in last years postseason, but he's become an important part of Edmonton's run a year later with his 6-foot-6 frame, excellent ability in the face-off dot, and versatility to play a lot off different roles both at 5-on-5 and on the team's penalty kill.

"Talk about a true professional and someone who's had to go through an evolutionary stage in his career," Woodcroft said. "I think he was with Minnesota last year. He didn't dress in their playoff games, but in Edmonton, he's a real important piece. He's a big body, penalty kills, I can move him up the lineup. I can move him down the lineup, and he plays the game hard.

The timing of his arrival in Edmonton and a mid-career renaissance couldn't have lined up better for Bjugstad, who's become a key contributor down the middle in Edmonton's top-nine forwards over the regular season and first round of the playoffs.

"It's for sure finding your place and your role, which I feel has happened as I've gotten older," he said. "It's definitely a little bit of luck sometimes, and like I said, I was fortunate to get the call that I was going to the Oilers. That was a fortunate bounce for myself, and I was excited."

Woodcroft is hoping the 30-year-old can see a few more rounds as well to really complete the mid-career revival.

"He's someone who probably came into the league expecting to put up huge numbers and has found a way to carve out a real nice career," Woodcroft said. "Part of carving out a really nice career is making sure that you go on a deep playoff run."

LINEUP NOTES

Two former Oilers netminder in Stuart Skinner and Laurent Brossoit will oppose one another in Game 1 at T-Mobile Arena after both were able to backstop their teams to Round 1 victories.

Skinner and Brossoit were both in the Oilers organization at the same time, but never shared the same team. When Skinner was taking his first professional steps with the ECHL's Wichita Thunder and AHL's Bakersfield Condors in 2017-18, Brossoit had already signed with the Winnipeg Jets to serve as the back-up to the goalie he helped eliminate in Round 1 of these playoffs in Connor Hellebuyck.

"Yeah, it's going to be awesome to play against him," Skinner said. "I mean, he's obviously an unbelievable goaltender. Ever since he's been up in the NHL this year, I know he's obviously struggled with a little bit of injuries and stuff, and that's always tough. You never want to see that on anybody."

Now in his second season with the Golden Knights, the former member of the Edmonton Oil Kings did battle through injuries early in the season and a stint in the AHL with the Henderson Silver Knights before returning to Vegas revived and ready to help shore up what was a tricky situation in the crease for Vegas with Logan Thompson and Adin Hill both injured. The 30-year-old has even taken the reins in goal from veteran Jonathan Quick.

"Just the way that he's battled back, and he's been playing amazing and this is a huge credit to him, so it's going to be a lot of fun playing against him," Skinner added. "I know the guys have talked about how he was always such a good guy and always a good guy around the room and a hard-worker, so it'll be fun to play him."

Forward Mattias Janmark participated in the pre-game skate on Wednesday and could be an option for the Oilers tonight after leaving Game 1 of Edmonton's series against Los Angeles. Forward Derek Ryan didn't take the morning skate along with Evander Kane, but both are still expected to suit up tonight in Game 1.

Keeping with his regular routine, Coach Woodcroft held those details close to his chest in his pre-game media availability. Edmonton's lineup will be made more apparent during warm-ups.

-- Jamie Umbach, EdmontonOilers.com

PREVIEW

OILERS at GOLDEN KNIGHTS (Game 1)

WATCH: 7:30 p.m. MT; televised on Sportsnet & CBC

Oilers Team Scope

The Edmonton Oilers finished just two points behind the Vegas Golden Knights in the regular season and will now take a run at the Pacific Division-winners in Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs after defeating the Los Angeles Kings in six games during the first round.

"We feel good about our game, we feel good about our health, and we feel good about our mental mindset heading into this second series," Head Coach Jay Woodcroft said before the team's flight from Los Angeles to Las Vegas on Tuesday afternoon. "I think it's going to be a big challenge; it's a different challenge, but we feel we have the people that are up for it."

Edmonton's power play performed at an incredible 56.3 percent (9-for-16) in the series against Los Angeles, with Evan Bouchard leading the Oilers with eight points on the man advantage in the opening round ahead of Connor McDavid (6) and Leon Draisaitl (5).

Draisaitl scored seven goals in Round 1 against Kings, matching his 2022 postseason total when he recorded seven in all 16 post-season games, and formed a deadly top line with Connor McDavid and Evander Kane for Games 4, 5 and 6 that made it more difficult on the Kings' defence to keep the Dynamic Duo in check.

"In the end, you have to go through it and our team did a good job in Round 1 of besting a very game, very strong Los Angeles team that had 104 points," Woodcroft said. "But now we're going to take on a team that finished ahead of us in the standings, and in order to get the results that we want to get to, we're going to have to elevate our game."

Woodcroft and his coaching staff have the flexibility to begin attacking the Golden Knights with the same loaded top line or reverting back to having McDavid and Draisaitl down the middle on separate units.

The Duo was split earlier in the series by Woodcroft in a 12-forward, six-defencemen lineup deployment before an injury to Mattias Janmark prompted a shift back to the 11-and-seven formation that allowed McDavid and Draisaitl to take turns double-shifting on the fourth line.

But Edmonton's true strength in the opening series came from their depth that contributed key goals and contributions at the right time.

Klim Kostin had a memorable Game 6 with a pair of goals, finishing with three in the series, while Kailer Yamamoto found the game-winner with under four minutes to go to send Edmonton to Vegas. After Yamamoto recorded a goal and assist in the all-important clinching Game 6, every Oilers forward had at least a point in the series.

The trio of Derek Ryan, Warren Foegele and Ryan McLeod owned 83 percent of the expected goal share in the 30 minutes they played with one another against the Kings, and Nick Bjugstad's two-goal game in Game 5 was the first multi-goal playoff game of his career. The performance came on a line with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman in another flex of some of the depth in Edmonton's forward group during the series.

Bouchard led Edmonton's blueline that was first among all teams in the first round with 21 points from their defencemen, while Stuart Skinner, still a post-season understudy, is steadily learning from some new experiences that will push the Calder Trophy-candidate's ceiling even higher during what's been a sensational rookie season for the Oilers netminder.

"I think a lot of people look at the Oilers and think it's a two- or three-man team," McDavid said post-game following Game 6 against LA. "It's not at all. It couldn't be further from that at all. Up and down the lineup, we've got contributions. Both goalies stepped up huge in the series, we had 7 D-men play and a bunch of different forwards stepping up at crucial times. That's what playoff hockey is all about. It's a good sign for a group."

"I believe that our players believe in our process," Woodcroft said. "I believe our players believe in our opportunity. But now, we've got to go out and make good on it."

Golden Knights Team Scope

The Vegas Golden Knights offer an intriguing counter to Edmonton's approach that will create an exciting second-round series between the Pacific Division's top two teams.

They might not have the matching offensive strength up front that Edmonton possesses, but their elite wingers, top-two defencemen and strong forward depth present a different type of challenge than the Los Angeles Kings.

The Golden Knights found themselves down 1-0 the Winnipeg Jets after Game 1 before ratting off four straight wins to make what was billed as a potential first-round upset into a relatively routine series victory. Vegas defeated Winnipeg for their eighth postseason series since entering the NHL in 2017-18, while their eight series wins are tied for the second-most in a team's first six seasons in the NHL.

Mark Stone, who had back surgery in January, was healthy enough to begin the post-season with Vegas and returned a team-leading eight points in the first round alongside linemate Chandler Stephenson, who's tied for the Golden Knights' lead in goals with four beside WIlliam Karlsson and has recorded four straight multi-point games after being held without point in Game 1 of Round 1 against the Jets.

Vegas' forward group is four lines deep that's headlined by elite top-six talent in Jack Eichel and Mark Stone who are backed up by likes of ancilliary contributors in Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson, Rilly Smith and Ivan Barbashev. The Stone line features Stephenson and Brett Howden and could draw the bulk of the matchups against any Oilers line that features both No. 97 and No, 29, while Eichel and Marchessault are a dual threat for any other line alongside trade acquisition Barbashev, who has offensive ability and isn't afraid to throw the body around.

Smith, Karlsson and Michael Amadio complete a potent top-nine for the Golden Knights, who'll try to slow down Edmonton's playoff-leading offence with one of the best bluelines in the League.

Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore are both right-shot defencemen who play in different pairings, but each present a formidable challenge if given the task of matching up against the Oilers stacked top line. If the Duo is split, each rearguard will take one of the matchups against the two elite talents with defensive-minded defenders in Brayden McNabb and Alec Martinez beside them.

Former Oilers netminder Laurent Brossoit has taken on starter duties for the Golden Knights in the playoffs and is 9-1-0 with a 2.02 goals-against average and .930 save percentage in 10 regular-season and playoff starts since April 1, including a .915 save percentage this postseason.

Slowing down Edmonton's special teams by staying out of the penalty box will be high on the priority list for a Vegas team that's only been able to convert three power-play goals on 16 attempts (18.8 percent) and owns the second-worst penalty-kill percentage in the postseason (58.3 percent). The Golden Knights had the fewest penalties taken in the regular season (243) and are the lowest among active teams in that category left in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

"Their power play is setting all kinds of records," Vegas Head Coach Bruce Cassidy said. "If you're going to beat the Oilers, you have to find a way to slow them down. Limit those chances and score yourself, because you're never going to keep those guys off the scoresheet."

"To me, it's less about staying out of the box. It's their offensive zone time. You have to find ways to keep them out of your offensive zone as best as possible."

By The Numbers

This will be the first postseason matchup between the Oilers & Golden Knights... The Oilers own an all-time series record of 10-6 in their first head-to-head playoff round with a franchise, while the Golden Knights are 7-3... The Oilers are 6-1-1 against the Golden Knights since the start of the 2021-22 season... That is their seventh-best record vs. any opponent over that span... Dating back to the 2021-22 season, the Oilers have won four straight road games against the Golden Knights... The Oilers have not won Game 1 since a 5-3 win in Game 1 of the 2017 Second Round against the Ducks, while the Golden Knights have lost four of their last five Game 1's...

The Oilers had three players with 10+ points in Round 1 (Draisaitl - 11, Bouchard - 10 & McDavid - 10)... It was their 3rd such occurrence in franchise history joining the 1987 Division Semifinal (three players) & 1985 Conference Finals (three players)... Connor McDavid has earned a point in five straight playoff games after being held off the scoresheet in Game 1 of Round 1... His longest point streak in a single postseason is nine games in May 2022.... He needs three goals & four assists to become just the third different player to record 70+ goals & 100+ assists in a season (regular & postseason combined) in NHL history... Leon Draisaitl scored his 25th career postseason goal in Game 6, and needed just 43 games to reach 70 career postseason points (3rd fewest in NHL history)...

Injury Report

OILERS - Mattias Janmark (foot) is day-to-day.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS - Logan Thompson (lower body) is day-to-day; Brayden McNabb (upper body) is day-to-day.

-- Jamie Umbach, EdmontonOilers.com