Adam Henrique’s Two-Goal Night and Stuart Skinner’s 23 Saves Propel Oilers to 3-0 Shutout Win and 3-1 Series Lead

The Edmonton Oilers are just one win away from advancing, and they’re doing it in emphatic fashion. On Monday night at Rogers Place, the Oilers put together a complete team effort, leaning on veteran leadership, opportunistic scoring, and stellar goaltending to blank the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 4 of their Western Conference playoff series. With the win, Edmonton now leads the best-of-seven series 3-1 and will head to Las Vegas with a chance to eliminate the defending Stanley Cup champions on their home ice.

It was Adam Henrique who stole the show offensively, scoring twice in a performance that highlighted just how dangerous this Oilers team can be when all pieces are clicking. The 34-year-old forward has been a reliable presence since being acquired ahead of the deadline, but Monday night marked his signature moment in an Oilers sweater. Henrique’s poise, experience, and finishing touch were on full display, and both of his goals came at crucial junctures that tilted the momentum squarely in Edmonton’s favor.

But this win wasn’t just about Henrique’s timely strikes. It was equally about Stuart Skinner’s calm and control in the crease. The Oilers’ goaltender turned away all 23 shots he faced, earning his first career playoff shutout and silencing any lingering doubts about his ability to handle the pressure of postseason hockey. Time and again, Skinner made critical saves to preserve the lead, from absorbing point shots through traffic to stonewalling breakaways. His performance was a clinic in positioning, focus, and discipline—everything a team could ask for from its netminder with the season hanging in the balance.

From the drop of the puck, Edmonton played like a team determined to protect home ice and seize control of the series. The opening frame set the tone, with the Oilers establishing the forecheck and dictating pace. They hemmed the Golden Knights in their zone repeatedly, drawing penalties and maintaining offensive-zone time that wore Vegas down. The physicality, led by the likes of Evander Kane and Darnell Nurse, kept the Golden Knights on their heels, while Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl orchestrated scoring chances with their usual blend of vision and precision.

Henrique’s first goal came late in the first period, a critical strike that broke the ice in what had been a tightly contested affair up to that point. After a sustained cycle in the Vegas zone, Henrique found a soft spot in the slot and redirected a Mattias Ekholm shot past Adin Hill. The crowd at Rogers Place erupted, the goal serving as both release and rallying cry for the Edmonton faithful.

The second period was where the Oilers truly began to separate themselves. They pushed the pace, limited turnovers, and continued to get sticks in passing lanes, frustrating the Golden Knights’ top playmakers. Vegas looked out of sync, unable to generate clean entries or sustained pressure. Mark Stone and Jack Eichel were largely neutralized by a disciplined Oilers defensive structure, one that collapsed to the net and blocked shots with abandon.

Henrique’s second goal came midway through the period and effectively took the wind out of the Golden Knights’ sails. It was a brilliant play—Henrique pounced on a miscue behind the net, read Hill’s attempted pass to the half-wall, intercepted it cleanly, and wrapped the puck around before the Vegas goaltender could recover. It was the kind of opportunistic goal that defines playoff hockey—capitalizing on a mistake, making it count, and shifting the game’s trajectory.

With a 2-0 lead, Edmonton didn’t sit back. Instead, they stayed aggressive on the forecheck and continued to win puck battles. The third goal came off the stick of Zach Hyman, whose relentless work ethic paid dividends once again. Hyman fought through traffic in front of the net, deflecting a long-range shot from Evan Bouchard past Hill to put the game out of reach late in the third. The goal was Hyman’s sixth of the postseason, underscoring his critical role in Edmonton’s attack.

The defensive effort in the final period was textbook. Edmonton clogged the neutral zone, denied clean entries, and smothered any chance Vegas had to mount a comeback. Skinner, meanwhile, stayed sharp throughout, never losing focus despite long stretches without facing a shot. His rebound control was excellent, and his ability to track the puck through layers of bodies showcased his growing maturity in the Oilers crease.

Special teams also played a major role in Edmonton’s Game 4 victory. The penalty kill was perfect, nullifying three Golden Knights power plays with aggressive stick work and timely clears. On the flip side, the Oilers power play generated momentum even if it didn’t find the back of the net on Monday. The puck movement was crisp, and the unit’s presence forced Vegas to expend valuable energy defending.

For the Golden Knights, the loss was a sobering reminder of how difficult it is to defend a title in today’s NHL. Their top stars were held in check, their depth failed to generate scoring chances, and their normally reliable goaltending cracked under pressure. Coach Bruce Cassidy will need to find answers quickly if his team is to avoid elimination. That may involve shuffling lines, tightening up defensive pairings, or even considering a goaltending change to shake things up.

Vegas has been here before—they know what it takes to come back in a series—but they’ll need to dig deep. Edmonton, on the other hand, is brimming with confidence and getting contributions from every part of the roster. McDavid hasn’t needed to dominate every shift for the Oilers to win, which is a testament to the team’s balance and depth. Players like Henrique, Hyman, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins have stepped up, and that makes Edmonton an especially dangerous opponent.

The Oilers also appear to be peaking at the right time. Their defensive structure is tighter than it’s been all year, their goaltending is trending upward, and their power play continues to be lethal even when it doesn’t score. Perhaps most impressively, they are winning games in multiple ways. Monday night was about grit, discipline, and mistake-free hockey—a far cry from the high-flying style that has defined Edmonton in recent years, but arguably even more sustainable in a playoff grind.

Now comes the biggest test. Game 5 in Vegas will be an emotional and physical challenge. The Golden Knights will come out desperate, pushed by their home crowd and the knowledge that their season hangs in the balance. Edmonton must match that desperation with composure, and if they do, they’ll have a golden opportunity to finish the series and move one step closer to the Stanley Cup Final.

For now, though, the Oilers can savor what was undoubtedly one of their most complete performances of the postseason. The goals from Henrique, the brilliance of Skinner, and the all-around team effort in Game 4 are a blueprint for playoff success. Edmonton fans, who have waited so long for a return to hockey glory, can feel it now. Something special is building at Rogers Place, and if Monday night was any indication, the Oilers are ready to take the next step.