Oilers Fall Short of Penguins’ NHL Record as Winning Streak Snapped by Golden Knights

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIFebruary 7, 2024

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

The Edmonton Oilers fell one victory short of tying the NHL’s all-time win streak on Tuesday evening, falling 3-1 to the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights.

Edmonton entered Tuesday with 16 straight wins, one shy of the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins’ 17-game streak.

The Oilers got off to a great start after Connor McDavid scored a short-handed goal on a 2-on-0 break to put Edmonton up 1-0 4:35 into the first.

Sportsnet @SportsnetConnor McDavid on a 2-on-0 with Leon Draisaitl buries the shorty! 💪 pic.twitter.com/9RqFOxV5iF

Vegas got one back, however, after Nicolas Roy scored off a rebound with 1:54 left in the first:

Vegas Golden Knights @GoldenKnights10TH OF THE SEASON FOR #10! 👏 pic.twitter.com/kluzK64Eo5

Neither team scored in the second, but Vegas went up for good in the third after Chandler Stephenson put home a one-timer:

Vegas Golden Knights @GoldenKnightsCHAN CHAN THAT’S OUR MAN! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/ZIekI0lTt1

William Karlsson’s empty-netter in the closing seconds finished off Vegas’ W.

It’s a tough loss for Edmonton, just one win shy of tying the record, but the Oilers’ win streak was an incredible run amid a tumultuous season.

Edmonton fired head coach Jay Woodcroft after a 3-9-1 start, replacing him with Kris Knoblauch. After two wins in the new era, Edmonton lost three straight, giving up 17 goals in the process.

The Oilers then rolled off eight straight wins, but their defense then struggled once again, allowing 15 goals in three consecutive losses.

Edmonton caught fire, however, with the 16 straight wins. All but one of the wins came in regulation or overtime. The Oilers allowed no more than two goals in the final 14 victories as well.

Losing to the defending Stanley Cup champions in their arena to end the streak certainly isn’t anything to be ashamed of, and the Oilers can take solace knowing that they’ve completely turned their season around.

Edmonton will look to get back in the win column Friday when it visits the Anaheim Ducks.