46 shots against, five penalties, and 0 for 7 on the power play… on the road, against a team that will likely be contending for a Stanley Cup this season. That’s not how you normally go about winning an NHL game, but that’s exactly what the Golden Knights did, and it’s something Golden Knights fans should probably get used to.
No no no, I’m not saying this team is going to shock the world, make the playoffs, and win the “Cup in One.” What I’m saying is that if the Golden Knights want to be a competitive team night in and night out, sometimes it’s going to take individual efforts like tonight.
I don’t want to be giving up 40 some shots. I thought we competed and battled hard and Fleury stole that hockey game. -Gallant
Other times it’s going to take a bit of luck and good fortune.
Let’s hope not. But some games will go that way. –Reilly Smith
But often it’s going to be ugly. Quite frankly, Vegas isn’t going to have the best players on the ice in most games. If they are going to stay in games, and even steal some like they did tonight, it’s going to take a bit of magic, or as hockey players call it, a bunch of cliches.
We’ve got to play a team game, all 20 guys out there have to go to battle for one another. Keep it simple. Battle battle battle for one another, and just outwork teams. –Deryk Engelland
There’s really no reason Vegas should have won that hockey game. Fleury was under siege much of the game, the Golden Knights were not particularly good on the penalty kill and they were miserable on the power play, and even when it came to physicality they weren’t exactly the aggressors.
But when you take a look up on the scoreboard, it says Vegas 2 Dallas 1. The blueprint was just set. Who knows how many games the Golden Knights will win in 2017-18? Their general manager spent much of the last two days making moves with an eye towards 2023 rather than 2017.
Yet the Golden Knights won.
Over the course of this season, there will be nights when Vegas is the better team on the ice, but there are going to be many more games where they aren’t. That doesn’t mean they all have to be losses though, and maybe, more importantly, it doesn’t mean they all can’t be enjoyable to watch.
Anytime we get a W, I’ll take it. -Gallant
He’s right, Vegas won tonight, but even if they didn’t, that was an effort any Vegas Golden Knights fan can be proud of in a year where realistically finishing 31st is much more likely than finishing 1st. That’s exactly what they’ll have to deliver all year to keep locals from selling their tickets, and truly form a relationship with their own city that’ll turn into something really special when this team truly is really ready to win.
Julian
Flurry incredible
Neal pretty close
A win is win
Plus I bet them didn’t hurt
Bent Hermit
I have watched Neal for most of his career and was really surprised to see him playing the left side of the PP. He is much better on the right side. Neal is deadly from the top right hand circle, the spot where he scored his 1st goal. He is almost a 1 trick pony the amount of goals he scores from there. I would look for them to move him and have a better power play.
Stevie
Or do they want Marchy to develop on the right side?
Bent Hermit
They have time to for march to learn the right side. I think they may want to show case Neal for a future trade to get the most out of him.
Ken Boehlke
Also have to take into account Neal’s injury. It’s his right hand that’s the problem.
Bent Hermit
I noticed he was playing left handed last night. It’s not uncommon for a team to put a guy on the opposite side, to give them a better angle on the net, on the PP. I just think at some time they will try it if the PP continues the way it has.
Larri Jo
Hey, are you doing a watch party tonight in Dallas or are you already home? I brought my Flower Power shirt….
Ken Boehlke
We are going to watch the game somewhere. Not sure where yet but shoot me a DM on Twitter and I’ll let you know where we are.