It’s the best time of year, playoff time. One of my favorite things about the playoffs is how the city responds to the excitement of a potential Stanley Cup run.
Of course, we kicked things off with the launch of our playoff hashtag, #FourTheCup and are starting to ship out shirts, tanks, hoodies, and stickers tonight.
The city is also starting to come alive with VGK pride too. First, the Credit One building right off the 215 has been wrapped with the words “Knight Up” and a gigantic logo.
(Photo Credit: Ken Boehlke, SinBin.vegas)
Next, the nightclub at Red Rock has been transformed into Crimson at Knight.
My favorite is the VGK themed food starting to pop up around town. First, at one of the best restaurants in the entire city, Zuma, is the Golden Maki Roll. An eight-piece sushi roll of bluefin tuna, tempura flakes, and pickled daikon topped with toro, fried ginger, Ossetra caviar, and 24-karat gold leaf.
Photo Credit: Zuma at Cosmopolitan Las Vegas
Staying with the sushi theme, Sushi Ichiban has the Golden Knight roll made with soft shell crab and onion crunch and topped with peanut butter, spicy crab meat, spicy garlic ponzu, and spicy yum sauce.
Here is the postgame “Space” which is essentially a call in radio show in which I talked about the heartbreaking loss to the Avs and what it means for the future.
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Recap: Down a few men the Golden Knights stepped up early against the Avalanche. Alex Pietrangelo gave Vegas a major boost by scoring the first goal of the game. Robin Lehner was strong in net stopping all nine 1st period shots from Colorado.
The Golden Knights kept the game tight in the 2nd period holding the Avalanche to only four shots on net. However, seven minutes into the middle frame Colorado was able to answer and tie the game.
All tied up 1-1 with 20 minutes left the game tightened up. Colorado eventually broke the tie and took a 2-1 lead. The Golden Knights had several quality chances down the stretch but couldn’t score the equalizer.
Vegas’ record drops to 39-14-2 after their heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Colorado. The Golden Knights will play their last regular season game on Wednesday in San Jose. Puck drop is scheduled for 6 PM PT. (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: What a tremendous hockey game that was. The Golden Knights were behind the eight-ball from the jump playing down three skaters but they came out and took it to COL early in the game. They played with excellent defensive structure and (Analysis by Ken)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs Colorado Avalanche at T-Mobile Arena
SinBin.vegas Podcast (whenever the playoff series is set)
That’s the Pietrangelo that can lead this team to a Cup
There’s not much to like about the format of this season’s schedule, but if there is one place where it offers something unique it’s in how teams respond to each other on their second night playing the same team.
On Friday night, the Golden Knights really struggled in the first period dealing with the St. Louis forecheck.
They came out flying in the 1st and were very physical and they took it to us at the beginning of the game. -Alec Martinez
The Blues constantly caught the Golden Knights standing still in their own zone and they appeared to be a step faster all over the offensive zone because of it. Vegas eventually conceded three times in the first two periods before they really settled in.
When presented with the same challenge the very next night against the same opponent, the Golden Knights’ response was tremendous.
As a group on the back end I thought we got back a lot quicker. We made a conscious effort to kind of help each other and move the puck quicker. -Alex Pietrangelo
This season the Golden Knights have won so often in the first of the two games between teams that usually the response has had to come from the other side. Even though they did end up beating the Blues on Friday, they felt they had more to give on Saturday and that showed up.
The key to it was recognizing where the opponent challenged Vegas and adjusting to eliminate it the following game. This is exactly what it takes to win a playoff series and the Golden Knights passed the dress rehearsal with flying colors.
They have really good structure so you’ve got to try and get through that as quickly as you can and when it’s not there you have to be willing to make the simple play and play in the neutral zone. I thought we made good decisions with the puck tonight. It’s just a matter of sticking to that plan. -Pietrangelo
After a game in which that structure made life difficult on the Vegas defense, they were able to quickly adapt to the speed of the Blues forecheck and neutralize it on Saturday.
The Golden Knights are a team that truly can play any way their opponent forces them to. In the Blues case, they’re going to force Vegas to be clean with the puck breaking out of the defensive zone. On Friday, they weren’t, on Saturday, they were.
With a playoff matchup seemingly on the horizon, that’s a lesson the Golden Knights are going to need to remember. Not only how they dealt with the heavy forecheck, but how quickly and efficiently they were able to do it between Game 1 and Game 2 (and really between periods 2 and 3).
Last year, the Golden Knights struggled to change their approach when they ran into a Dallas team that gave them trouble. This year, they have a lot more practice with it in a season jammed with common opponents. The saying goes, luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Last year, luck was tough to come by, hopefully, the extra preparation helps this time around.
**Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Famer, Steve Carp’s returns to SinBin.vegas for the 2021 season. His weekly column publishes every Sunday during the Golden Knights season and is brought to you by the Jimmerson Law Firm.**
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are expected to start next weekend and it’s time for Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer to make what will be the biggest decision of his tenure with Vegas.
Who starts in goal for Game 1?
DeBoer has three options. One, he can go with Marc-Andre Fleury, who has three championship rings. Two, he can play Robin Lehner, who has played well in the past during the postseason but whose name doesn’t appear on the Cup. Option Three is to keep the status quo and maintain the $12 million experiment and rotate Fleury and Lehner.
If he keeps the rotation going, DeBoer breaks with conventional wisdom which is you play one guy and you ride him as far as you can. But this year has been anything but conventional and should DeBoer continue to rotate his goalies in the playoffs, would it shock you if it worked?
Both have done the job and are capable of getting hot. Lehner has played well since returning from a concussion he suffered in February. At times, he has been spectacular, as was the case in overtime in Friday’s 4-3 win over the Blues. He even assisted on Jonathan Marchessault’s game-winner. But from an overall perspective, he is certainly worthy of consideration should DeBoer opt for one goalie.
Fleury has had an outstanding season. He has been dialed in since training camp and he came prepared to win the starter’s job. When Lehner went down with a concussion and missed 18 games, Fleury took on the added workload and delivered. He last lost back on April 7 and is riding an eight-game win streak.
To both goalies’ credit, they handled the rotation plan well. They appear to be supportive of each other and they are looking at winning the Jennings Trophy, which goes to the top goaltending tandem that allows the fewest goals.
Their styles are different. They have their strengths and weaknesses like any player. Both are extremely competitive, which is what you want from those who play the position.
So what should DeBoer do? Or more important, what will he likely do?
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Recap: The Golden Knights got off to a great start against the Blues. Reilly Smith opened the scoring with his third goal in three consecutive games. Later in the period Chandler Stephenson shot a shorthanded laser to stretch the lead. After the opening twenty minutes Vegas held a 2-0 lead.
The scoring dried up for most of the second period until the Blues took advantage of a 4-on-4 situation. With :36 left in the middle frame St. Louis cut the lead in half.
The Golden Knights were awarded an early power play in the third period and Smith cashed in again. Vegas held a 3-1 advantage for most of the entire period until Smith scored an empty net goal registering his first career hat trick.
Vegas’ record improves to 39-13-2 after their 4-1 victory against St. Louis. The Golden Knights host the Avalanche in a big late season matchup on Monday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM PT. (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: For the first 2 periods, the Golden Knights completely outclassed the Blues in just about every phase of the game. St. Louis had a bit of pushback in the 3rd but Vegas held strong and snuffed out any thought of a comeback. Play like that, and St. Louis won’t win a game in a playoff series against the Golden Knights. (Analysis by Ken)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs St. Louis Blues at T-Mobile Arena
Game recaps and Periscopes are brought to you by Kondler and Associates CPAs. Free tax consultation for SinBin fans!
Recap: The Golden Knights hosted the St. Louis Blues for back-to-back games at T-Mobile Arena. Vegas got on the scoreboard first when Reilly Smith notched his 11th goal of the season. Later in the period the Blues tied the game with a shorthanded goal. After the opening 20 minutes the game was locked 1-1.
St. Louis took charge in the 2nd period scoring two unanswered goals. Vegas got a massive momentum shift from Alec Martinez :09 seconds left in the period. Martinez got his team within one with his 9th goal of 2021.
Trailing 3-2 the Golden Knights picked up the pace in the final frame. Nic Roy tied the game battling in front of St. Louis’ net and rifling a shot past Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington. The Golden Knights had to settle the game in overtime in consecutive games.
Vegas’ record improves to 38-13-2 after their 4-3 overtime victory against St. Louis. The Golden Knights and Blues finish off their back-to-back tomorrow night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM PT. (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: Unlike the last few games, the Golden Knights were in comeback mode falling behind due to a couple tough goals on Lehner. They did well to fight through and tie it but the majority of the best chances down the stretch were STLs. As for OT, they might as well rename it Vegastime. (Analysis by Ken)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs St. Louis Blues at T-Mobile Arena
The article Jason wrote that should have published today. A Friday without an article? What the heck? Who runs this website?
Following a pair of games in Minnesota, we look towards the final four games and ahead towards the potential matchups in playoffs. Hosted by Ken Boehlke and Jason Pothier.
Game recaps and Periscopes are brought to you by Kondler and Associates CPAs. Free tax consultation for SinBin fans!
Recap: The 1st period in Minnesota got off to an eventful start. Tempers flared early resulting in 30 minutes of penalties from both teams. The period ended in a scoreless tie.
Things settled down in the 2nd period with both teams focused on defending and scoring. Chandler Stephenson gave Vegas the first lead of the game with his 13th goal of the season. Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury was flawless through two periods holding on to a 1-0 lead.
Minnesota fought back in the final frame and eventually scored two unanswered goals to take a 2-1 lead. Vegas responded late getting the tying goal from Reilly Smith on the power play. The score wouldn’t change from there leading to the five-minute overtime. Alex Pietrangelo ended the game with his biggest moment as a Golden Knight.
Vegas’ record improves to 37-13-2 after their emotional 3-2 victory in Minnesota. The Golden Knights will travel home to play back-to-back games against the St. Louis Blues. Friday night’s puck drop is scheduled for 7 PM PT. (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: The Golden Knights looked like they were cruising to their first win in regulation at the Xcel Energy Center through the first 50 minutes of the game. They were controlling play, keeping the Wild to the outside, and doing exactly what the playbook says to beat Minnesota. But then the wheels fell off again in the 3rd as Vegas lost track of the best player on the ice… twice. Vegas wins it in OT, but the concern of a potential playoff matchup looms. (Analysis by Ken)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center
To celebrate their arrival, any order tonight of anything from @modernrivalslv gets a free #FourTheCup sticker for every item. Buy 10 things, get 10 stickers.
Order has to come in before midnight. https://modernrivalslv.com/collections/playoff-gear
Foley says he's very concerned about health heading into the playoffs.
Mentioned Martinez has been dealing with a lower-body injury for a while and it finally got to a point where he couldn't play. Pacioretty is an upper body injury that is worse than they initially expected.
We’re starting to do work w our friends at @shakeshack. Tomorrow, 5/11, the entire day, if you mention: “Donation” at the Shake Shack in Downtown Summerlin, NV (where our #SameHere buddy @RobinLehner has a big game tonight) 25% of your order goes to help us implement MH programs.
