Recap: The Golden Knights hopped on a flight for their first time this season for a third straight matchup with the Arizona Coyotes. Robin Lehner made his third start of the season boasting a 2.00 Goals Allowed Average.
The Coyotes struck first scoring quickly 3:22 in the opening period. Arizona held a 1-0 lead over Vegas for the first time in two games. The Golden Knights committed three penalties and the Coyotes capitalized on one power play. It was a one-goal game after 20 minutes played.
The scoring picked up in the 2nd period. Shea Theodore tied the game 1-1 with his third goal of the season. Arizona would score two unanswered goals, taking a 3-1 lead into the 2nd intermission.
The Coyotes would stretch their lead 4-1 early in the final period. Cody Glass took advantage of a Golden Knights power play scoring his first goal of the season cutting the Coyotes lead 4-2. Arizona would ice the game late with an empty-net goal securing a 5-2 win over Vegas.
The Coyotes hand the Golden Knights their first loss dropping their record to 4-1-0 and in a tie with the Minnesota Wild for first place in the West division. The finale of this four-game series against the Coyotes ends on Sunday afternoon. The game in Arizona is scheduled for 1 PM PT. (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: Vegas just never really got going in this one. The 1st period was fairly evenly matched but a trio of VGK penalties helped aide the Coyotes to their first lead of the series. Then, even though Vegas tied it in the 2nd, they never were able to apply consistent pressure and turned the puck over far too often to keep themselves in the game. Was always going to be a tough spot beating a team a third straight time, they just have to make sure they don’t let it linger and turn into a streak going the wrong way. (Analysis by Ken)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights at Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena
- 5 defenseman rotation leading to inconsistency on the back end
Ken’s Three VGK Stars
*** Chandler Stephenson
** Shea Theodore
* Mark Stone
Cody Glass: Very good on the PP
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) January 23, 2021
I'll repeat what I said Wednesday night.
Do not overreact to VGK PP struggles during this 4-gam series against the Coyotes. Arizona has the best PK in the league and has a chance to be one of the best in the last 10 years.
If it continues after them, then we can panic.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) January 23, 2021
Remember this comment. It just happened again. https://t.co/r9j7X0yysS
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) January 23, 2021
Daryl
I don’t understand the use of only 5 defenseman… would love an explanation from PDB. What really baffles me is Kolesar plays less than 5min. Why not make him a healthy scratch and use 6 defenseman if that is all he is going to play. Maybe I’m missing something here.
Ken Boehlke
It’s really not a DeBoer decision. Here’s the story I wrote on it a little while back. https://sinbin.vegas/why-im-in-favor-of-scratching-cody-glass-to-save-keegan-kolesar-from-waivers/
Daryl
I completely understand that and even agree… but can’t he be a healthy scratch and still swap Hague for Glass so they have 6 defenseman? I guess that’s the part I don’t understand
Ken Boehlke
They don’t have enough cap space to do that.
Daryl
Got it thanks!
DOC (Go Knights Go)
Ugly game . No physical play. Could we have the softest D group in the league?
Mike StG
Penalties in the 1st were a killer. Also, the 13-5 looks like it is starting to be an issue. Later in the game the D looked like they were struggling. On Marty’s penalty near the end he looked gassed. The constantly rotating D pairings aren’t ideal either. Wonder how many games they need to play before they can get back to 12-6.
Julie
I was looking at how VGK felt the Wed game was a more “complete” game vs Friday’s game. I understand the penalties take the gas out of momentum. Did AZ figure out holes in the VGK defense after 2 games or did AZ just step up their game? Maybe both. I know PDB doesn’t change much in strategy, but I hope he has a few surprises coming Sunday.
Tim
Hockey is an interesting game from top to bottom there’s not much difference. We have an overall better team then Anaheim and Arizona but Gibson and Kemper kept there teams in the game. That’s the nature of hockey as we found out last year in the playoffs it’s all about the goalie.. You can call it no puck luck or we didn’t have our legs tonight but the reality is every game is a battle.
Tim
Were between a rock and a hard place with Kolesar if we send him down he’d need to clear waivers which he wouldn’t. Glass and Hague don’t need to clear waivers hence all the flip flopping. I like to look at the positive Kolesar, Glass, and Hague rotating and practicing with the Knights is giving all three of them experience for the future. Who knows managements plan but I could see Kolesar replacing Reeves next year, Whitecloud playing with Theadore and Coghlan playing the third line with Hague. That would be a good start of infiltrating some young players along with our veterans. Then we’d have Krebs and Dugan as next man up. So personally I like what there doing.
the president Elect- Hockey God
“Golden Knights are going to have to get used to how Lehner plays” Lehner’s game last night was like a ham and swiss cheese sand wedge (sandwich) without the ham, without the lettuce, without the tomatoes, without the mayo, (only the swiss cheese and all the holes with it)
PS Trump won and 80% of America knows it !
the president Elect- Hockey God
oh yeah, and without the bread !
Mike StG
lol, 0-2 on those 2 analyses. Funny dude!!
Peter Brown
Hopefully this one works.
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/295911/kaedan-korczak
DOC (Decency returns)
Yea, he won, a one way plane ride back to Florida, where he will be forgotten!