Vegas had four straight comeback wins in 2023, the year it won the Stanley Cup. It was a testament to its championship mettle. And in the second round that postseason, the Golden Knights defeated these Oilers, rallying to win the final two games after the series was tied 2-2.

Backs against the wall, the Golden Knights and Oilers showed exactly why they’ve been frequent fliers past the first round — and why the Minnesota Wild and Los Angeles Kings were first-round fodder once again.