2023 Stanley Cup playoffs - Inside the Golden Knights-Oilers offensive fireworks - ESPN

LAS VEGAS — Given the current landscape in the NHL, a team can give up four goals in a Stanley Cup playoff game and its coach can still feel like it had «defensive success.»

That was Vegas Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy's point in using those words while offering his assessment of his team after a 6-4 win Wednesday night against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. He wasn't trying to deflect questions about Vegas' blue-line play. Nor was he attempting to take anything away from the individual who scored all four Edmonton goals, superstar center Leon Draisaitl.

All Cassidy was saying is what constitutes defensive success in the NHL these days is a more nuanced concept than most might believe.

And he's not the only person associated with either the Golden Knights or Oilers who is making the same point.

«For us, in the end, we're about the end result in the playoffs. 8-7 is a win for us,» Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft said. «Are there things you can improve defensively? Yes. We're quite aware that we were the top team down the stretch. But we're also aware the second-hottest team down the stretch is the one we're playing. They have certain attributes, and one of those attributes is that they can score.»

Several scenarios could play out Saturday in Game 2 at T-Mobile Arena. There could be fewer goals. But there is also the realistic chance that this could be another game with close to — or even more than — the combined 10 goals Vegas and Edmonton scored in the series opener.

So what does defensive success look like in a playoff series that features the two teams that are the proverbial poster children for the NHL's continuing offensive surge?

When asked that question, Oilers defenseman