Nightmare playoff scenario unfolds for Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers playoff opponent will be decided by the final game of the season, but as long as Vegas defeats the lowly Anaheim Ducks, they will remain ahead of the Kings and slot into face the Oilers in the first round. The LA Kings have proven to be a very favourable matchup for the Oilers in the past, but the Golden Knights are an entirely different beast.

The Golden Knights will activate their team to full strength in game one of the playoffs as Mark Stone comes back from injury, this time alongside more elite trade deadline acquisitions like Noah Hanifin, Anthony Mantha, and Tomas Hertl. The Golden Knights had already eliminated the Oilers once before, and now they'll face a much improved team looking to defend their Stanley Cup earlier in the playoffs.

It's certainly a scarier thought that playing against the Kings, and some Oilers fans are having mixed reactions to facing Vegas. For some, it's a curse to play one of the strongest teams in the NHL so early, but other fans are welcoming the challenge and opportunity to slay the dragon.

After the commanding 5-1 win over Vegas last week, the Oilers should feel confident heading into the playoffs no matter who they play. Led by their generational talents up front and now finally with solid goaltending in Stuart Skinner, even the cheating Vegas Golden Knights shouldn't frighten the Oilers in the playoffs.