EDMONTON, Alberta — The vitriol between the Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers was quiet for three games. The first period Monday more than made up for that.

Those 20 minutes were the best from the Oilers all series. As a result, the Knights’ season is on the brink.

They had no answer for Edmonton’s suffocating and physical play, and now find themselves on the brink of elimination after a 3-0 loss to the Oilers in Game 4 of their second-round series at Rogers Place.

Edmonton, which improved to 8-0 in Game 4s since 2023, has a 3-1 series lead and can close it out in Game 5 at T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday.

“I don’t think we dictated the pace of the game,” right wing Reilly Smith said. “That’s something we’ll have to fix next game.”

Goaltender Adin Hill made 29 saves, but his teammates in front of him did nothing offensively. Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner made 24 saves for his first win, and shutout, of the postseason.

Edmonton center Adam Henrique scored two first-period goals, and left wing Evander Kane had a goal and an assist to put the Oilers one win away from their third trip to the Western Conference Final in four seasons.

Edmonton hadn’t played anything close to its best through three games. The Oilers had pockets of good hockey, but nothing sustainable.

Edmonton was on top of the Knights from the jump Monday after its last-second loss in Game 3 on Saturday. The Oilers were the more physical team. They hit anything wearing a white sweater.

Edmonton caused chaos around Hill’s crease to the point he shoved any Oilers player that got within inches of him. He shoved right wing Zach Hyman for trying to crash the net. Hill went after Kane when his own teammate, defenseman Brayden McNabb, pushed Kane into him.

There were 22 penalty minutes handed out in the first period.

“They’re trying to exert juice after losing a game. That’s what they did,” Smith said. “We answered, but we have to play with a little bit more pace and urgency in our game.”

Hill wasn’t rattled. The Oilers just had a directive, and it worked.

Henrique opened the scoring 1:27 into the first period after defenseman Zach Whitecloud turned the puck over behind the net. Henrique added his second goal with 6:57 left in the first on a deflection in front that started the chaos with Kane.

“They came out in the first, had a hard push,” center Jack Eichel said. “Give us credit. I thought we stood up to them. You get behind, we obviously weren’t able to solve their goaltender.”

The Knights had their opportunities. They had three power plays in the first period. Two came after post-whistle scrums.

It didn’t matter. The Knights went 0-for-3 and were outshot 15-5 in the first.

Edmonton went up 3-0 on a rush goal by Kane 7:38 into the second period. The Knights couldn’t get themselves back into the game. The Oilers took away the middle of the ice and had a 10-5 edge in high-danger scoring chances at five-on-five through two periods, according to the website Natural Stat Trick.

Edmonton controlled the game even though captain Connor McDavid was held to one assist and center Leon Draisaitl, separated from McDavid to start a game for the first time this series, had no points. The Oilers’ depth made the difference.

The Knights now have to win three straight to keep their season alive.

“It’s do or die now,” Eichel said.

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