Oilers shut out Knights, close in on conference finals

Adam Henrique scored twice to lead the Oilers to a 3-0 victory over the visiting Vegas Golden Knights on Monday, a result that puts Edmonton one win away from advancing in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Evander Kane collected one goal and one assist for the Oilers, who lead the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series 3-1. Edmonton will try to wrap up the series on Wednesday in Las Vegas.

Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner made 23 saves to record his first shutout of this year's playoffs. Skinner, who began the playoffs as the starter but struggled and lost the job, returned to the net for the past two games with Calvin Pickard injured. He posted his second career playoff shutout.

Goalie Adin Hill stopped 29 shots for the Golden Knights, who failed to build on their last-second Game 3 victory.

Henrique opened the scoring 87 seconds into the clash by burying an open chance from the slot after Connor Brown won a board battle behind the Vegas net and sent a puck to him.

The Oilers controlled the bulk of the play in the opening frame and made it a two-goal edge when Henrique registered his second of the clash at 13:03 of the period when he slipped home a loose puck during a scramble.

Kane extended Edmonton's lead at 7:38 of the second period when he slid a shot through Hill's legs as he drove down the wing on an odd-man rush.

Connor McDavid earned an assist on the goal, running his point-scoring streak to eight games.

Vegas made a frantic late push, even pulling Hill for the extra attacker for most of the final four minutes, but could not crack the shutout bid.

During the first period, the first fight of the playoffs took place between Edmonton's Trent Frederic and Vegas' Nicolas Hague. There was another fracas immediate after the Oilers made it a 2-0 game, with Hill upset at Kane for a goalmouth collision.

--Field Level Media