Jonathan Marchessault used the words “must-win” three times in the first two questions during his morning skate media availability. That term has been thrown around by others in the moments since the Golden Knights went behind 2-1 in the Stanley Cup Final, the deepest they’ve trailed in a series all postseason. However, the focus is inward, looking at themselves to get back to the style of hockey that’s gotten them to this point, something they believe they haven’t played in any of the three games this series.
We haven’t shown our game yet, that’s the reason we are down by one. -Pierre-Edouard Bellemare
Bellemare believes the fix is easy too.
Small details. Late on the forecheck, sometimes forwards are not reloading as hard as they have been all year. It’s the Final, so being close to a player isn’t good enough, you have to be on him. At the end of the day I feel like we’ve been able to play our game against any team we’ve played and it shouldn’t be any different if we are all committed to it, it’s as simple as that. -Bellemare
His message has also comes through on the ice. The Golden Knights fourth line has been consistently excellent in the series, scoring goals, checking both ways, and controlling play a majority of the time they are on the ice.
It’s just making the right play at the right time. If the play’s not there in the middle then just chip it (in). The best example is the Bellemare line, they play a simple game and they have a lot of success. I think we should definitely play more like that. -Marchessault
Jack Adams finalist Gerard Gallant isn’t so sure he wants his skill guys playing like Bellemare, Tomas Nosek, and Ryan Reaves though.
To a point, yeah, for sure. Belly and those guys play straight lines they work hard they contain pucks down low and the way they’ve been successful in this series has been outstanding. Do I want Marchy and them playing like Bellemare? No I don’t. I love Belly, he does his job the way he does it, but our first line has to play the way they’ve played all season long. -Gallant
In short, the Golden Knights need to return to being the Golden Knights. They need the first line to dominate on both ends, they need the second and third lines to create offense and push the pace of the game, they need the fourth line to continue making life a living hell on their opponents and stealing shifts from the oppositions top lines, they need the defensemen to get back to their simple style and stop making mistakes in their own end, and they need Marc-Andre Fleury to continue to play the Conn Smythe quality hockey he’s displayed the previous 18 games in the playoffs.
Vegas can be, and maybe should be, the better team in this series, they just haven’t shown it yet.
Gallant is switching up the lineup a bit with Tomas Tatar coming in as well as another unidentified change possible.
This game has all the pieces that point towards a Golden Knights win. They usually don’t play poorly many games in a row, lineup changes usually pay off, and when they describe a game as a “must-win” they’ve been virtually unbeatable.
But those were the Golden Knights that that ripped through the Pacific Division and stormed to the Western Conference with a 12-3 record. Those Golden Knights haven’t made an appearance in the Stanley Cup Final. Either they do tonight, they regain control of the series and it’s just another great moment in this incredible story, or they don’t and the proverbial “other shoe” will have finally dropped.
No pressure boys.
brian
They got this, Ken. You KNOW they do. This series is coming back here tied 2-2.
Brian
OMFG……..OMFG……..NFW……..OMFG…….
Brian
4 goals on 18 shots after 2. I need to puke……again……..
Vgk4life
Absolutely dominated once again by the play of Tom Wilson. It doesn’t matter if he gets penalized or not, our PP is atrocious. Wilson scores or sets up goals and the biggest thing, he creates room on the icr for the caps continously. The knights absolutely refuse to get rid of the guy. Keep taking the high road, get steam rolled over and over. Nothing like setting the tone for each game by being embarrassed time and again.
Vgk4life
Absolutely gutless performance once again. Waiting until the last two minutes to show some fire? What a laugh….
Brian
Ouch………when’s my flight………get me the fuck out of here…….
Timothy
You got steamrolled. Officiating has been better this series than in the previous 3, but the Caps are better than any of the 3 Vegas faced. Eat shit and enjoy licking each others dicks for another 3 nights. Viva Loss Vegas!
Matt
That guy is a jerk. Your team has played great hockey all year and this series could easily be tied 2-2 or in Vegas’s advantage. Having watched many games where the Capitals carried play but ultimately lost the game I understand the heartbreak and frustration. The series is far from over though, I expect an even better game out of Vegas on Thursday. The Caps are gonna need to bring their best game if they want to eliminate the Knights.