Recap: The Golden Knights were looking to snap their losing streak with a victory on the road in St. Louis. 19 seconds into the game Mark Stone forced a giveaway in St. Louis’ zone giving the Vegas a quick 1-0 advantage. Midway through the period Victor Olofsson doubled the Golden Knights lead but St. Louis immediately answered back.
Leading 2-1, the Golden Knights regained their two-goal lead after Pavel Dorofeyev notched his 21st of the season on a second period power play.
Vegas continued to frsutrate St. Louis in the final frame. The Blues had trouble all game generating shots but found the back of the net on a 6-on-5 situation. Tomas Hertl finished off the home team with a late game empty net score.
The Golden Knights record improves to 30-14-4 defeating the Blues 4-2 in St. Louis. Vegas will travel to Dallas for a matchup tomorrow night with the Stars. Puck drop in Dallas is scheduled for 4:30 PM. (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: After a few weeks of things going the wrong way against the Golden Knights, they were able to create their own luck on the road against a middling Blues team. Stone set the tone early by singlehandedly giving VGK the lead, and then they used their structure and strength to force the game in their direction all night. A few posts, a good power play, and a fortunate penalty kill turned the tide for a night and hopefully for good. (Recap by Ken)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs. St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center.
- Time for a turnaround is now.
Ken’s Three VGK Stars
*** Tomas Hertl
** Jack Eichel
* Mark Stone
2 things are true in this game.
1) VGK are getting the bounces they haven't been gettin the last few games
2) VGK are playing so much better, so much more structured, and a lot stronger.Luck is a big part of hockey, but forcing it to go your way is possible. VGK are doing it.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) January 24, 2025
This is been the poorest refereed game of the season. They literally can't get one right. The ones they've called have all been wrong and the ones they are ignoring are all penalties.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) January 24, 2025
Almost halfway through this game…
VGK Goals – 3
STL Shots – 4— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) January 24, 2025
This goal was tied for the 5th fastest in team history. They have goals at :10, :12, :14, and :18 in the 1st period.
It is however the fastest goal this season by VGK. https://t.co/yxhtOV9zAQ
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) January 24, 2025
Jim
Good team effort. Good PP. They seem to win when players are out.
would like to see them acquire a defensive center who can win faceoffs, play good defense, and play in defensive situations like PK and late game protecting a lead. with Karlsson out, it is needed.
with Edm way ahead in their game, Vgk needed a win tonight.
Pistol Pete
Yeah Hertl is that strong C who wins FO’s but his +/- has been disappointing thus far. Something of an enigma as CapFriendly had him as a decent all zones player coming in. I know, scouting reports are not always accurate. Dorofeyev was a respectable +12 in 67 NHL games coming into this season but his +/- has suffered playing with Hertl. Ask Cassidy and he will probably cite puck luck as a factor.
JB
Solid effort. A much needed win. Let’s see if we can back it up vs Stars tomorrow!
Pistol Pete
Robert Thomas made it a nail biter at 56:34 but Hertl took care of business. Badly needed two points. Took the first of a back to back for a change. On to Dallas.
Richie-Rich
Game 48 Analysis VGK 4 STL 2
Pacific 1st Place 30-14-4, 64pts, +30gf/ga
Western 2nd Place, 3pts behind the Jets who are +50gf/ga
League 3rd Place 4pts behind league leading Caps who are +51gf/ga
The defense looked sharp in this game, and the VGK appear to have refocused their efforts and are playing Cassidy’s scheme. The Blues hit two posts in the 2nd period so the Hockey God must have been smiling on the boys today.
Stone, Olafsson, Dorofeyev with the PPG, and Hertl with the empty netter. Samsonov played extremely well earning the win.
Next up are the Stars in a back to back game in Dallas. The Stars are 29-17-1, 59pts, and +32gf/ga. Big January exam for the Golden Knights. It appears that Wild Bill may be going on an extended injury rehab.
Emmanuel
Eichel is being stoned twice a game.
VGk 4-5-1 in last 10 games, if thats a rough patch they are in good shape.
larry
Excellent overall effort defensively and offensively had many chances they just werent able to find the back of the net….wish Jack would have sniped like kyrou did…what a shot!!…like Ken made mention of the refereeing was beyond abysmal…how many times must Eichel be blatantly tripped to receive a call?
Wizard of BJ
For the six of seven loss streak (NYI- STL OTL) the special teams were excellent: PP 6/13 (46%) PK 11/14 (79 %) total 125%. Funny how things can go. Lose special teams good.
ThG
Blues came on strong in period three. VGK got some puck luck as Blues hit iron at least twice. Refs sucked in this game, missing calls all over the ice. Meanwhile rumors have it heels up can’t even keep her marriage together.
ThG
Where’s Alex ??
https://x.com/bennyjohnson/status/1882625558791827661
knights fan in minny
run scared scumbag invaders
knights fan in minny
blue line 6 tightened up played good samsy was good good win 2 tough games ahead
Pistol Pete
NHL.com:
VGK +120
DAL -142
34 games remaining
17-17-0 = 98 pts
DK
Ken, maybe you can bring this up to Cassidy does he need to adjust his coaching in the 3rd period with a lead? This Prevent-type defense is not a good fit for this team. They don’t have the shut down D-presence from ’23 with Smith, Stephenson & Carrier (w/Speed & SIze). We currently have Ole, Doryveyev & Hertyl/Holtz. VGK should have kept the pedal to the medal till they achieved a 3 goal advantage in the 3rd which would have been easily achieved against this Blues team. Keep the pressure on your opponent with the offensive talent we now have instead of tiring the team out playing 5 on 6 because they are in striking distance and it almost cost them another point or game loss.
Ken Boehlke
Don’t think the stats agree with you.
18-2-0 with a lead at the end of the 2nd. They were 31-3-3 last year with a lead after 2 and 34-1-2 the year before.
This team does not struggle to close out games.
Rashaad
Most goals in the NHL since January 1st
Austin Matthews 9
Pavel Dorofeyev 8
David Pastrnak 8
Jose
Barbashev-Eichel-Stone
Olofsson-Hertl-Dorofeyev
Pearson-Roy-Kolesar
Brisson-Laczynski-Holtz
McNabb-Theodore
Hanifin-Pietrangelo
Hague-Whitecloud
Hill
Jack Hammer
Jose,
Leave the lineup to The Hammer.
Alexander Holtz has been sent down to the minors. The hammer had it first.
Jose
Understood
knights fan in minny
shut up stupid ham
Jack Hammer
More ice time for Brendan Brisson tonight
Barbashev – Eichel – Stone
Olofsson – Hertl – Dorofeyev
Brisson – Roy – Kolesar
Pearson – Howden – Laczynski
Hanifin – Pietrangelo
McNabb – Theodore
Hague – Whitecloud
Hill