When The Creator decided to name his team the Golden Knights, he did it with the idea that they would follow a very specific mantra. “We will never give up and never give in. The Knight always advances and never retreats.”
It’s clearly a cliche and for my money incredibly hokey, but to this point in the 2021-22 season, it’s about as good a way to describe the Vegas Golden Knights as possible.
Tuesday night’s game was yet another example in a long string of games this season where the Golden Knights have seemingly rescued a point in the standings they had no business of picking up.
Maybe you don’t deserve a point, but you hang around, our goalie was good, and we were opportunistic. -Pete DeBoer
It was the 6th time this season in which Vegas has entered the 3rd period trailing and walked away with at least an overtime loss.
We could have folded the tent and just accepted defeat, but it was a good comeback by us. -Mark Stone
That’s just never what the Golden Knights do. Sure, they’ve lost 10 times when trailing to begin the 3rd, but look at some of the comebacks they’ve put together this season.
October 27th, at Dallas, the Golden Knights were down a goal with 1:02 left. They tied it and then went on to win in overtime. (2 points)
November 11th, against Columbus, Vegas trailed by two goals in the 3rd period. They scored a shorthanded goal before netting the go-ahead and game-winner with less than seven minutes to go. (2 points)
December 8th, against Dallas, the Golden Knights scored three times in less than six minutes in the 3rd period to turn a 4-2 deficit into a 5-4 win. (2 points)
December 17th and 19th, a couple games in New York, first the Golden Knights scored late to tie the Rangers, then the next night they had an Isles goal called back for offside before netting the equalizer with less than a minute to go. Vegas would win both in shootout. (4 points)
January 2nd, against Winnipeg, the Golden Knights scored with nine seconds left to send the game to OT. (1 point)
January 11th, vs Toronto, a shorthanded Vegas roster scored twice in the 3rd to push a sure loss to overtime. (1 point)
January 20th, against the Canadiens, the Golden Knights looked like they were going to take an embarrassing defeat to one of the worst teams in the NHL. Instead, they netted a power play goal before hitting the game-winner in OT. (2 points)
And finally, Tuesday in Carolina, where the Golden Knights trailed by two on multiple occasions to one of the most potent teams in the league. They fought through it and sent the game to overtime. (1 point)
That’s 15 points out of Vegas’ 53 that can be directly attributed to “never giving up and never giving in.” If VGK got none of those points, they’d be a point behind the Chicago Blackhawks in the standings. If they got just half of them, they’d be in 5th place in the Pacific and 10th in the West.
It’s a skill every team in the league would love to have, but it’s also a ledge a legitimate Cup contender should not be standing on as often as the Golden Knights have. As they return to health and the schedule lightens up in February, they should be expected to win games more convincingly, and need far fewer miraculous comebacks to maintain their status as leaders of the Pacific.
But, even if they don’t, there’s no reason to ever believe the game is over, no matter how grim it looks.
Tim
Ken let me give you a little history lesson. You called his motto hokey that my friend is the West Point motto. I’ll take that a step further the name Golden Knights was a take off of West Points ( Black Knights on the Hudson ). That term will always be connected to Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside on the great West Point teams of my childhood. Mr. Inside Doc Blanchard Mr. Outside Glenn Davis. QHokey it’s not there’s some great history on the Black Knights on the Hudson long before you and probably your dad were born.
Ken Boehlke
I’m well aware of where it comes from. When we are talking about marching into battle to protect the freedoms of American people, sure, I’m on board.
But this is a hockey team in a league with 31 other hockey teams. It’s hokey. Sorry if that offends you.
Tim
Ken war is war whether it’s on the battle field or on the ice. You’ve never heard in sports this is going to be a war. I rest my case.
Sherm
Tim, it’s seriously not that deep. You’re looking much further into it than you should. Whether on the battlefield or on the ice, it’s cliche: a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought. It being cliche isn’t a bad thing. Stop making it out to be.
Galdom
I thought they wanted to be the Las Vegas Knights but couldn’t because the London Knights of the Ontario hockey league own the rights.
Annoyed
Watch a Florida game. A Colorado game. A Tampa game. Those are contenders. This team plays like a middle of the pack kind of team and they currently sit 12th in the league, which checks out. In most other divisions they are fighting for a playoff spot. Out top players don’t preform and that seems to be the difference between us and actually elite teams. Stone just kinda floats out there. Waiting for the play to come to him. He barely scores goals and seems to be invisible most of the time. When you watch the top teams their stars are the difference in winning and losing most of nights. I’m pretty down on this team right now. Mid offense. Mid goal tending. Mid defense. Mid team.
THE hockey GOD
if only we picked up evander kane we’d be rolling right now
knights fan in minny
because he is a color alex is that what your saying your still a dumb ass
knights fan in minny
tough test for the boys tonight
Vic
I hear you, Annoyed. The good news is the VGK are hanging in there until more of the troops return. Colorado looks like a machine, but they need to be careful as peaking in Jan/Feb doesn’t always work out well in April/May. Tampa is always a problem with the Big V in net. I agree the VGK are a cut under the elite teams, but not too far from being contenders against any of the elite teams when healthy. Will be nice to see a full roster.
Daryl
Just picking up a point in the weak Pacific does t mean a whole lot. It’s great to see the team fight til the end but whether they get a Pont or no doesn’t mean a whole lot
Galdom
That first period was a scary reality dose. Lehner has kept this game close but it could get ugly in a hurry unless we wake up in a second period
Daryl
FLA announcer made several comments about not shooting directly at RL. He said he’s a big guy and you are t going to score when shooting at his chest
knights fan in minny
panthers have the fire power
Galdom
Nolan Patrick getting a ton of power-play time. Odd
knights fan in minny
showing him for a trade who would want him
Alex
https://www.iihf.com/en/worldranking
Super proud Japan has cracked the top 25 in the IIHF ranking
#GoJapan
#HockeyDiversity
knights fan in minny
blah blah blah boy
Alex
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/krystof-hrabik-hockey-player-suspended-racial-gesture/
2022 and this crap still happening
Daryl
Maybe you can demonstrate a monkey jesrure for us
knights fan in minny
2022 and your people still shooting and robbing and thugging