Recap: The Golden Knights were looking to make it two wins in a row under new coach John Tortorella with a victory against the visiting Calgary Flames. Calgary struck first 7:41 into the game on their second shot on net. Vegas had 14 shots on net and two power play chances but trailed 1-0 after the opening 20 minutes.
Mitch Marner tied the game in the first two minutes of the second period with his 21st goal of the season. Calgary regained their lead a few shifts later, but Marner again evened the score with his second goal of the night. The Flames took a 3-2 lead on their 14th shot of the contest, but Vegas’ Pavel Dorofeyev answered back on the power play. After two periods the game was locked in a 3-3 score.
After a lengthy delay to start the third period, the Golden Knights took their first lead of the game. Brett Howden scored his 10th goal of the season to give Vegas a 4-3 advantage. Minutes later, Ivan Barbashev extended the lead with his 22nd goal. Marner completed the hat trick to seal the game for Vegas.
The Golden Knights record improves to 34-26-16, defeating the Flames 6-3 at T-Mobile Arena. Next, Vegas will travel to Edmonton for a potential playoff preview against the Oilers. Puck drop in Edmonton is scheduled for 7 PM. (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: VGK have unlocked their scoring, which is a massive part of finding wins at this time of year. With it, though, has come a new really big problem. They are having an extremely hard time limiting odd-man rushes, something they have been elite at under the previous regime. It led to all three CGY goals and it gave them a chance in a game they couldn’t generate much of anything in the offensive zone. Vegas hung with it and eventually the Flames cracked by making a few mistakes that fed right into VGK’s skill and they executed. It wasn’t quite a must-win, but considering the opponent, it was close, and they got it done despite falling behind three times. (Analysis by Ken)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs. Calgary Flames at T-Mobile Arena.
So far, defenseman Rasmus Andersson has been a good fit for the Golden Knights. In eight games, he’s recorded 4 points, is +3, and averages 21:55 minutes of ice time a night. Even though it’s a very short sample size with Vegas, overall, the 29-year-old is on pace to reach or exceed his career high in points. He’s already matched his career high in goals too.
I hope the fans know I gave my all every game, even though last year I had a shit year. I’m really grateful for my time there. The organization has done so much for me. I’ve been with them for so long, and I’m so grateful to have gotten a chance to call pretty much everyone in the organization a really good friend. Hopefully I won’t get booed when I come back. –Rasmus Andersson to Sportsnet.ca
Spending his entire twenties in Calgary, Andersson grew from a bright-eyed 53rd overall pick to a blossoming two-way blueliner averaging top line minutes and a place on the top power play unit. Due to his success, the 10-year veteran essentially played his way out of the Flames organization.
Recap: The Golden Knights traveled to Calgary for their first of two games in Alberta. The Flames took a 1-0 lead in the opening four minutes of the game. Calgary added to their lead five shifts later. Trailing by two, Reilly Smith cut the deficit in half with his patented backhand shot. The Flames regained their lead and took a 3-1 advantage into the first intermission.
Calgary took a 4-1 lead 8:38 into the middle frame. The Golden Knights were awarded a late 2nd period power play, but the Flames jumped on a loose puck and scored while shorthanded. Minutes later, Kaedan Korczak got Vegas within three goals going into the final break.
Vegas got one from Mark Stone to cut it to two but the Flames tacked on the empty netter to close it out.
The Golden Knights record drops to 16-7-10 falling to the Flames 6-3 in Calgary. Next up, Vegas will head to Edmonton tomorrow for a battle with the Oilers. Puck drop is scheduled for a 5 PM. (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: The Golden Knights have had games in which they’ve struggled with puck management. They’ve yet to have one quite like tonight where the issues end up in their net over and over again. Calgary looked faster, stronger, and just flat out better all night against the shorthanded VGK. Try again tomorrow against a surging Oilers. (Analysis by Ken)
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This weekend, the Golden Knights will be without two of their top players in Alberta. Tonight, Vegas will face a Calgary team that’s 10 points back and is expected to miss the postseason for the fourth straight season. However, the Flames are holding their opponents under three goals per game this season. Like Vegas, Calgary is in the Top 12 for allowing the fewest number of goals per 60.
Since Thanksgiving, the Golden Knights have participated in nine games, and five have gone into an overtime period or a shootout. Without that extra hockey, Vegas is averaging 2.44 goals per game in regulation.
Both Calgary and Edmonton pose problems when the Golden Knights are struggling to score, as they did against the Devils on Wednesday.
VGK’s Scoring Rank Since Thanksgiving
5-on-5 Goals: 14 (31st)
4-on-4 Goals: 1 (12th)
5-on-4 Goals: 6 (13th)
3-on-3 Goals: 2 (3rd)
It’s been almost 10 games, and the Golden Knights are the NHL’s 3rd-worst club in even-strength goals during that stretch. Scary enough, if you subtract all goals scored on the PP or in OT, Vegas drops to second-to-last with only 14 5-on-5 goals. Gulp.
Without Eichel’s 1.32 points per game and Theodore’s 0.65 PPG, the Golden Knights will need others to compensate in Alberta. The Flames have been averaging over three goals per game since late November, and no surprise, the Oilers are leading the league with more four goals scored per game recently. They’ve also been holding opponents to 2.40 goals per 60. VGK’s woeful offensive production could be coming at the wrong time.
On the flip side, maybe the absences of two of Vegas’ top playmakers jumpstart other skilled members of the team. Much of the weight should fall on Tomas Hertl, Mitch Marner, and Mark Stone. However, all three are averaging far less than half a goal per game. While Marner is averaging a point per game, he’s still sitting on six goals for the season. VGK’s $96M free agent is on pace for 15 total goals in 2025-26. Rookie Braeden Bowman is projected for 20, and he didn’t enter the lineup until VGK’s 16th game.
Let’s hope this is the adversity Marner needed to establish himself as the major impact player the organization can rely on.
This morning the Golden Knights woke up only to find themselves in 5th place in the Pacific Division. Sure, there’s five months left in the regular season, but for dramatics’ sake, if the playoffs were to begin today, the Golden Knights would be O-U-T out.
With Seattle's loss in shootout, the Golden Knights currently sit on the outside of the playoff picture (by points).
Since Bruce Cassidy took over, VGK have played exactly ONE game while out of the playoff picture. That was on October 22nd, 2024 vs LAK, they won 6-1.
In years past, the Golden Knights routinely feasted on nonthreatening Pacific Division opponents. Since 2021-22, Vegas has an astonishing .800 points percentage against Anaheim, Calgary, San Jose, and Seattle. The Golden Knights gleefully average 22 standings points each season by beating up on those four franchises. Surprisingly, that group of pushovers is now down to just the Flames (which VGK have already taken four points off of).
VGK vs ANA, CGY, SJ, SEA Since 2021-22
2021-22: 23 Points (11-3-1)
2022-23: 20 Points (9-3-2)
2023-24: 19 Points (9-6-1)
2024-25: 26 Points (12-0-2)
So far, the Golden Knights have played six games against divisional foes. They are 3-0-3 in those games. Like clockwork, Vegas is back to pick-pocketing points against the four dwellers of the past. Altogether, the Golden Knights have picked up points in each divisional game this season. However, Pacific matchups haven’t been as easy as years past. Ahem, well, maybe one game.
Recap: The Golden Knights hosted the Calgary Flames for a Saturday night Pacific Division battle. Newcomer Mitch Marner opened the scoring :46 seconds into the game, scoring his first goal as a Golden Knight. Calgary tied the game a few minutes later on the power play but Tomas Hertl answered right back for Vegas with a PP goal of his own. Late in the frame captain Mark Stone scored his first of the season to give his club a 3-1 edge.
Quickly into the middle period Ivan Barbashev extended Vegas’ lead to 4-1. Late in the frame Marner scored his second score of the evening. After 40 minutes of play the Golden Knights took a 5-1 advantage into the second intermission.
Stone recorded his second goal of the night 2:37 into the final frame to give VGK a commanding 6-1 lead.
The Golden Knights record improves 4-0-2 defeating the Flames 6-1 from T-Mobile Arena. Next up, Vegas will host the undefeated Carolina Hurricanes on Monday night. Puck drop against the Canes is scheduled for 7 PM. (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: For the first time all year the Golden Knights were the ones that come out hot. Marner scored instantly and though Calgary answered back, the Golden Knights were the better team by a wide margin all night. They created dangerous chances at an incredibly high rate and finished off a bunch of them. Power play remained elite, top line was incredible, Marner showed off some amazing skill, and VGK now have the #1 and #2 players in the NHL in points after 6 games. (Analysis by Ken)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs. Calgary Flames at T-Mobile Arena.
