Recap: Alex Tuch continued his hot streak quickly in the 1st period against Minnesota. Tuch’s 9th of the season gave Vegas the early lead 2:03 into the game. Marc-Andre Fleury was superb stopping all 10 shots by the Wild in the opening 20 minutes.
The Golden Knights had multiple chances on the power play in the 2nd period but couldn’t convert one into a goal. However, seconds after a man-advantage ran out Jonathan Marchessault doubled Vegas’ lead with a nifty top-shelf score. Minnesota would get one back, and after 40 minutes played the Golden Knights held a 2-1 advantage.
The Wild pressured in the first half of the period but Fleury kept calm. Mark Stone and Chandler Stephenson stretched the lead, and William Karlsson secured the victory with a late empty-net goal. The Golden Knights won 5-1 and sent Minnesota packing.
With their 5-1 victory over the Wild, the Golden Knights record improves to 14-4-1. Vegas hits the road for the next six games. They’ll next play on Friday night in San Jose. The game against the Sharks is scheduled for 7:30 PM PT. (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: The Golden Knights needed some magic to recover the game on Monday, tonight they came out and handled Minnesota like a 1st place team should in their own building. Vegas was much better in all three zones and got some nice individual efforts from a number of guys to put the puck in the net offensively. The Wild aren’t someone to take lightly come playoff time, but the Golden Knights gave them something to think about with a pair of home victories. (Analysis by Ken)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs Minnesota Wild at T-Mobile Arena
- Explaining why Robin Lehner is not on LTIR or even regular IR
- DeBoer will only use the 4th line in the offensive zone, especially against the better teams
Ken’s Three VGK Stars
*** Mark Stone
** Chandler Stephenson
* Marc-Andre Fleury
And the Capitals were ready to waive him… pic.twitter.com/Xe9ILNNscM
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) March 4, 2021
Glass having an excellent period on the defensive side of the puck. Borrowing Mark Stone's patented stick on the ice move in the neutral zone was sweet.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) March 4, 2021
Dylan Coghlan doesn't make that play if he still has the mustache. Great decisions off the ice lead to great plays on it.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) March 4, 2021
Wasn't the prettiest exit or entry but what a great backhand feed across by Cody Glass and the Wild forgot Tuch exists. Big first goal for VGK.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) March 4, 2021
DOC (Go Knights Go)
We keep on rolling! Sweep the Wild.
Flurey: What else can be said. The best in the league right now! (but will need some help).
Now to the hated Sharks. We must destroy them!!!!!!
THE hockey GOD
Puck luck has been on VGK side in last two games
We shall see if it luck or skill will rule on forthcoming road trip.
Riding coat tails of hot goalie last so long…..as the hot goalie is hot.
PDB still pushing the right buttons.
Many teams right on the trail in standings, things are heating up !!
ROAD TRIP WILL TELL.
PS trump won bigly.
Frank
Excellent game, but much closer than the final score would indicate. Wild always play us tough. Fleury was on point – he looks like a man on a mission this season. Make no mistake, the goaltending was the difference in this game. However, nice to get two wins against Minny at home. Go Knights Go!
Pistol Pete
Glass is looking all the more comfortable. He bulked up to a big body and imo has sufficient speed, quickness in the framework of a play, vision and the hands to be an elite forward, especially given that there are many in the league who are not, for example, Tuch or Stephenson fast. At only 21 he will improve drastically; currently not even close to his peak.
Pistol Pete
Stephenson now has more points (34) in 60 games with the Knights than in 168 games with the Caps (33).
Sb
There’s a big difference between playing on the 4th line and 1st line.
Pistol Pete
True. In retrospect he may have been under utilized on the Caps. I think he did get some higher than 4th line shifts and could be where more of his points came from. It’s a given players point more in a top six role, what matters now is whether the Pacioretty/Stephenson/Stone line works long term.
hdbiker7851
Time to face the fact that the knights are where they are for one reason and one reason only and it is spelled FLEURY. -the guy management was intent on getting rid of and many posters including Ken where all for. Its a little like the original team that had something to prove which as you all know they certainly did that. Fleury was, is and always should be the face of the VGKs a position he rightfully deserves. The score certainly was not indicative of how Vegas played as there were many times during the game they couldn’t get out of their own zone. The Wild cruised around more often than not untouched when someone should have put a body on them against the boards. Bottom line Vegas won – great – but it certainly was not one of their better games that the score might indicate IMO
Pistol Pete
Agreed Fleury continues to be a big factor as there were numerous moments in the game where the Knights could not break out and move through the neutral zone to match the Wild. However, they came through with big scoring plays, perhaps more than offsetting Fleury’s outstanding performance. Looks like Dansk will play Saturday. Sure will be sweet if he can pick up where he left off in the innaugural season.
Pistol Pete
I keep neglecting to consider it could be Thompson. Assuming one of them plays Friday for the Silver Knights, the other may play against the Sharks Saturday.
Sb
Fleury is playing great hockey, the best of his entire career. However, that wasn’t the case for the first two thirds of last season. Actually career lows and then there’s that game against San Jose … who would ever forget that game? Many fans will disagree , but the best thing to happen to MAF was the arrival of “the hated Lehner.” That competition lit a fire that’s burning today . The $5 mil spent on Lehner was the best investment MGT has spent to date. Want the best? Better have competition .
Hdbiker7851
Sb – if you truly believe that Fleury is playing better because of Lehner you must only be a Lehner supporter as that’s just plain BS. Yes he struggled after the death of his dad – l have to assume you haven’t experienced that sort of thing – lucky you. 5 mill for Lehnet is a waste of money and in business which you may have forgotten or never knew it’s all to do with ROI which in Lehner s case has not materialize. Remember he landed here after no one else he played for though enough of him to keep him on the payroll. Not sure when they signed him why everyone though Fleury was a waste of money sitting backup and now having the walrus is not a waste. You got to be kidding.
DOC (Go Knights Go)
The Knights keep winning and are now 14-4-1. Why do some want to keep down-playing the wins? It’s not easy to win in this league. This negative BS has been going on for a few weeks and the boys just keep handling their business one way or another.
Pistol Pete
Dansk is 3-1-0 in the NHL (all VGK): GAA 2.89 SV % .915. That seven goals loss to the Flyers last season hurt. Could be a gem in the rough.
DOC (Go Knights Go)
Last I knew, the goalie is part of the team. Last night he carried the team. Monday he didn’t. He is playing absolutely great. But for some to keep saying we are winning only because of him, just isn’t realistic.
We have a very good TEAM! Now lets go crush the snarks!
Pistol Pete
Zack Hayes, Silver Knights D.: Turns 22 in April, 6’3” 221.
Off to a good start his first 9 AHL games: 1 G/2 A +9.
For the 4th line, at the very least scratch Reaves, replace him with Kolesar and put Roy on the 3rd or visa versa.