The Golden Knights needed one point to clinch a playoff berth, but the Colorado Avalanche wouldn’t make it easy. Vegas coming off a two-game skid traveled to Denver in search of a win.
The Avalanche were flying on the ice creating heavy pressure on the Golden Knights defense. Matt Calvert scooped up a centering pass and wristed past Malcolm Subban for the 1-0 Avs lead. Three minutes later Vegas center Paul Stastny took a costly high-sticking penalty in the Colorado zone. Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon doubled up the score 2-0 on the ensuing power play for his 38th goal of the season.
Down two, the Golden Knights would have some work to do if they were to get back in the game. Both teams traded chances for half the period when Paul Stastny got Vegas on the board with a beautiful wraparound goal. Four minutes later Reilly Smith scored his 19th goal of the season getting Vegas within one. Two and half minutes later Colorado made a two-goal game again leading 4-2 after two periods of action.
Vegas would begin the final period on the power play down 4-2. The Golden Knights would be turned away on their man advantage and had trouble generating offense for most of the period. Colorado tightened up their defense with under five minutes but Alex Tuch punched a high rebound into the net for Vegas’ third goal of the night. Subban was pulled with 1:10 to go in the game giving Vegas the 6-on-5 advantage. After some really close chances the Avalanche evaded an overtime period beating Vegas 4-3.
The Golden Knights record drops to (42-29-6) and remain in the Pacific Division’s third place position, with five games left to play. Vegas still needs one point to clinch a playoff berth. The team will get back on the ice Friday night in Vegas against the Minnesota Wild. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 7PM.(Recap by Jason)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs. Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center
- Fleury is getting his rest, but how much is too much for playoff performances
Ken’s Three VGK Stars
*** Alex Tuch
** Paul Stastny
* Mark Stone
Can't say they didn't have chances. Wow.
File 6-on-5 as another thing Mark Stone makes this team better at.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) March 28, 2019
Oh my God, Mark Stone. Insanely dominant shift from start to finish and Tuch is able to find the rebound and put it home.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) March 28, 2019
Malcolm Subban with a heck of a save there. He's still not had a good game.
It's not just him though. Others playing poorly include Ryan Carpenter, Jon Merrill, and Deryk Engelland (to a lesser degree)
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) March 28, 2019
Darin
Can’t spot a team three goals before you start playing and after your smallest player has to drop the gloves. Now is not the time to not play a full 60 minutes. Anything less will not fly in the playoffs. And some of those games will go 80, 100 or more minutes. But first they still need a single point to get there.