Recap: The Golden Knights were searching for their first win streak of 2020 on the road in Montreal. The 1st period didn’t go as planned as the Canadiens scored 3 goals in the opening 20 minutes.
Down three, Vegas chipped away in the middle frame. Jonathan Marchessault scored on a beautiful feed by linemate Reilly Smith. Paul Stastny added a gritty goal later to get his team within one. After two Vegas trailed 3-2.
Montreal would take a two goal lead midway through the 3rd period. Vegas would battle back, allowing Max Pacioretty to add his 21st of the year with under two minutes remaining. Reilly Smith showed his heroics tying the game with 7 seconds left taking the game in to overtime.
After some good chances by both teams, the game was sent to a shootout. Each team scored on their first tries but Montreal would score one more to take the two points winning 5-4 in SO.
Vegas’ record drops to 25-19-7 and lose their first game (in OT) under new coach Pete DeBoer. The Golden Knights travel to Boston to play their last game before the break. Faceoff against the Bruins is scheduled for 4PM. (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: Yet again, the Golden Knights fell into the all to familiar 3-0 hole. This time, they didn’t play terribly in the first period, but the chances they created wouldn’t be scored on while most of the ones Montreal did were. DeBoer pointed to execution and said the team didn’t deserve to be down 3-0 after one. I’d agree, but there’s no doubt that’s getting old. The response in the latter 40 minutes was good but not terrific. There were still a number of breakdowns leading to odd-man rushes the other way. They needed two goals with their goalie pulled to force overtime and then got dominated in OT. Vegas created just one chance in OT and the Habs created about eight. Another failed poke check cost the Golden Knights the extra point in shootout. (Analysis by Ken)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre
- We’ll try to figure out what exactly the Golden Knights were looking to institute.
Ken’s Three VGK Stars
*** Reilly Smith
** Paul Stastny
* Jonathan Marchessault
Nonetheless, that's a great point all things considered.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) January 19, 2020
That's the type of goaltending this team needs. Fleury was stupendous in OT. They need even more of it in shootout.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) January 19, 2020
Nashville 2.0!!!
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) January 19, 2020
Looked to me like VGK had a directive of throwing more hits. They did that, but are still dealing with the same problems they have been.
Not finishing, turnovers, average at best goaltending, and errors in their own zone.
(This is NOT the coach's fault. Current or former)
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) January 19, 2020
Tim
I’ll say I was impressed with Thomas Tatar he can play to bad it didn’t’ work out in Vegas. The Habs were lucky in the first period and we were lucky at the end of regulation. All and all we were lucky to get a point. Let’s get lucky in Boston get home and give DeBoer 10 days to clean some stuff up. We’ll have 30 games left after the all star break and basically tied with 4 other teams in our division. So Pete it’s will be time for you to show us what you have.
OT
the Knights are simply atrocious in 3-on-3 OT, and they need to start practicing it. a lot of important points are being lost.
They can’t win a faceoff, they can’t play man to man defense, and they don’t even comprehend that you have to go full ice length, build up speed and carry the puck, and walk in on the goalie, not make short passes or shoot from way out by the blue line.
even puck moving guys like Theodore and Smith, who both should be going end to end with speed and winning OT games for the Knights, are instead hesitant and indecisive all of a sudden when they get the puck in OT. just weird and inexplicable.
Walt Tkaczuk
It felt like the Habs had the puck for 4 and 1/2 minutes of OT. Why are Holden and Eakin out there in OT ever? OT procedure needs to be reworked ya think. The Ottawa test was nothing as they are terrible. The Habs are a little better, but the ongoing Tatar show is always difficult to watch. Falling behind by letting Cousins and Weise beat you is not good. Three points out of four helps, and now it’s time to face the greatest line on ice, Chara, Halak, and great special teams. Then thankfully a break. Let’s hope coach can right the ship, and bring out some of that speed we used to have by making some touch choices. Then we’ll see what GM has in store if anything.