Recap: The Golden Knights hosted the Blue Jackets got their last home game of their seven game stand. Vegas took two penalties in the 1st period and one ended up costing them the first goal of the game. It was the sixth straight game that Vegas allowed the visiting team to score first. Columbus lead 1-0 after the opening 20 minutes.

The Blue Jackets doubled up their lead 2:06 into the 2nd period. Vegas would try and play catch up for the rest of the middle frame. The Golden Knights were awarded two power plays but couldn’t convert. They continued to trail Columbus 2-0.

Vegas struggled again to generate any offense, and Columbus took advantage. The Blue Jackets stretched their lead to 3-0 deep into the 3rd period.

Vegas’ record drops to 24-18-6 and remain with 54 points. The Golden Knights hit the road and next play on Tuesday in Buffalo. Start time is scheduled for 4P. (Recap by Jason)

Analysis: The Golden Knights just didn’t have it on this night, once again chasing a game after conceding first for the 5th straight game. Offensively they couldn’t generate much against a stingy Columbus defense and the Blue Jackets capitalized on a couple of opportunities. Vegas looked frustrated throughout as they had a hard time getting extended offensive zone time and rarely created more than once chance per possession. It’s a frustrating way to end a homestand that started out so promising. (Analysis by Ken)

Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs Columbus Blue Jackets at T-Mobile Arena

• Steve Carp’s Sunday column on William Carrier’s elevated role

Ken’s Three VGK Stars
*** Paul Stastny
** Shea Theodore
* Alex Tuch

8 points in a 7 game homestand is not acceptable. Puts a lot more pressure on the upcoming 8 game roadie, can't come back without a point per game at the least.

— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) January 12, 2020

And for the FOURTH game in a row, the Golden Knights are down 3-0.

— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) January 12, 2020

When it's not even Reilly Smith's night this season, it's trouble.

— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) January 12, 2020

Vegas began their four-game road trip in Columbus looking for their first regulation win since October 27th. The Golden Knights played strong defensively in front of goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury in the 1st period. Fleury stopped all nine shots by the Blue Jackets and Reilly Smith scored a late goal to give his team a 1-0 lead after the opening 20 minutes.

Columbus would tie it up 5:37 into the second period but the lead wouldn’t last long. Smith would add his second of the game on a nice shorthanded setup by William Karlsson. Fleury continued his strong play between the pipes and Vegas would again take a one goal edge leading 2-1 after two periods in the books.

Columbus came out attacking in the 3rd but Fleury and the defense would keep the Blue Jackets scoreless for the entire period. Vegas picked up two points with a final of 2-1 in Columbus.

Vegas improves their record to (9-5-2) and break their two-game skid. The team will head to Toronto for a matchup against the Maple Leafs on Thursday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 4PM PT. (Recap by Jason)

Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights at Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena

• Betting trends all pointed to a win over Columbus (possible)

Ken’s Three VGK Stars
*** Jon Merrill
** William Karlsson
* Reilly Smith

Certainly not a perfect effort, but the Golden Knights did enough to win the game and extend their point streak to 4.

— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) November 6, 2019

The #PowerKill is back!

Another shorty for Reilly Smith. Nick Holden with a hell of a play to get that started too.

— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) November 6, 2019

Golden Knights have struggled against the Blue Jackets historically, but this is a much different Columbus team.

VGK -145 favorites on the @WilliamHillUS Mobile Sports app. pic.twitter.com/S1gEvowC2v

— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) November 6, 2019

A wide open first period had scoring chances aplenty both ways. Columbus struck first with a deflection goal that just slid past the line, but moments later the Golden Knights answered with a wacky hop bounce goal of their own from Nate Schmidt. Then, on a Blue Jacket power play, Reilly Smith and William Karlsson led the charge down the ice and Jon Merrill put home the loose change. A strong 2nd by Columbus put Vegas on their heels defending for a majority of the frame. Marc-Andre Fleury’s misplay off the boards helped Artemi Panarin tie the game at two. A Cody Eakin tally put Vegas back in front, but another spill by Fleury helped Cam Atkinson tie it. On the power play, Atkinson scored another one. The Golden Knights couldn’t get anything on net with the empty net and dropped a heartbreaking one.

Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs Columbus Blue Jackets at T-Mobile Arena.

• Carp on Gallant’s decision to play only 10 forwards in the 3rd
• An off day that may have changed the complexion of the season.
• A deeper dive into the difference between when VGK gets through the neutral zone clean and when they don’t. (Assuming my eyes didn’t deceive me when I watch this game again)

Ken’s Three VGK Stars
*** Jon Merrill
** Reilly Smith
* Cody Eakin

A very tight checking game in the 1st period led to a scoreless first two periods. The pace picked up a bit with Columbus pouring on some pressure in the 2nd, but couldn’t get one past Subban. The Blue Jackets came flying out of the break and scored just 40 seconds into the 3rd. Vegas started creating more offense but never could find the equalizer.

Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights at Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena.

• Why not pull the goalie earlier?
• The calmness that Stastny brings to the Golden Knights lineup.

Three Stars
*** Malcolm Subban
** Sergei Bobrovsky
* Nick Foligno

VGK has turned it up a bit, but I still feel like the great chances just aren't coming. If I'm Turk, I pull Subban really early here, like maybe even 4 or 5 minutes left to try and force the issue. Be smart with when you do it, but don't wait just to wait.

— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) December 18, 2018

With nearly half the game gone, VGK has done absolutely nothing offensively. The shot chart is downright scary. (stick tap @NatStatTrick for the graph) pic.twitter.com/n8Cv0TjSXk

— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) December 18, 2018

This game did not start out well at all of the Golden Knights. Just 16 seconds in Artemi Panarin got the Blue Jackets on the board. Columbus scored again a few minutes later, but another offside challenge by the Golden Knights brought it back. Erik Haula tied it early in the 2nd, but things spiraled quickly after that. A messy 3rd period led to nothing and the Golden Knights dropped their fourth in five games.

Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights at Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena.

• James Neal to the 3rd line? It may just make sense.

Three Stars
*** Pierre-Luc Dubois
** Artemi Panarin
* Joonas Korpisalo

Certainly not Reaves’ fault tonight, but this is kind of the story of the game.

Who else but William Karlsson scores the game’s opening goal against his old team, hos 26th of the season. Columbus tied it and took a 2-1 but then the Golden Knights poured it on, and in a hurry. Three goals in just over five minutes gave the Golden Knights a two goal lead. An insane lead lob pass by Shea Theodore to Karlsson gave the Golden Knights their fifth of the night. Vegas hangs on with a late empty netter from Erik Haula.

Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights at Columbus Blue Jackets at T-Mobile Arena.

• Photo gallery from SinBin.vegas’ superstar photographer Brandon Andreasen.
• The Hunt/Miller pairing took a bit to get back in sync, but now they are and they are putting up offense and a bunch of it.

Three Stars
*** Shea Theodore
** James Neal
* William Karlsson

The return of 2nd period magic… #VegasBorn #CupIn1 pic.twitter.com/3WitY0xqQe

— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) January 24, 2018

Now we are just waiting on Carpenter… every other Golden Knight currently on the roster has a goal this season. #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/kJjiW7q8zg

— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) January 24, 2018