Recap: The Golden Knights began a two-game road trip, beginning with a match with the Blues in St. Louis. Former Blues forward Brandon Saad opened the scoring to give Vegas a 1-0 advantage. Two minutes later, Golden Knights rookie Braeden Bowman scored his first career NHL goal.
Noah Hanifin immediately stretched VGK’s lead to 3-0 with his first goal of 2025-26. Vegas drew a four-minute power play late in the frame but couldn’t convert. However, the Golden Knights had time left on the advantage for the third period.
Tomas Hertl converted a breakaway chance to give the Golden Knights a four goal lead. Unfortunately, Akira Schmid lost his shutout on a fairly late Blues goal.
The Golden Knights’ record improves to 8-4-5, defeating the Blues 4-1 in St. Louis. Next up, Vegas will make a stop in Minnesota for a matchup with the Wild. Puck drop tomorrow is scheduled for 3 PM. (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: The Golden Knights needed a get-right game, and they absolutely got it in this one. Completely dominated the Blues from start to finish. They were impressive through the neutral zone which allowed them to easily break out defensively and spend tons of time in the offensive zone. The Blues never offered any resistance and VGK built up a lead and then coasted to the finish line. (Analysis by Ken)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs. St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center.
- Another game tomorrow in Minnesota
Ken’s Three VGK Stars
*** Pavel Dorofeyev
** Akira Schmid
* Braeden Bowman
vgk21
Play all the games in St Louis…..VGk gave won 6 straight games in that rink.
vgk21
despite an occasional softy, Schmid has a lifetime winning percentage of 75 % with VGk counting last season and this one. 9-1-3
That is probably #1 all time for any Vgk goalie with at least 10 decisions. right , Ken?
Larry
Excellent effort tonight by VGK both offensively and defensively, but especially defensively as they allowed very few quality looks, it made the blues look ‘ listless’ , but that’s what happens when the other team is shutting down every entry and limiting possession.
3 things stood out for me tonight:
Pavel’s excellent passing tonight, obviously especially on Bowman’s goal
Reinhardt being noticeable on both ends, especially not being in the penalty box
And most importantly, and Pete you will appreciate this:
Shots from the point, shots made with little hesitation, shots towards the net, very few bad things can happen, and many good things can and will happen if pucks are directed towards the goal, heck they might even go in like Hanifins did!
Richie-Rich
Game 17 Summary VGK 4, STL 1
We are back to +5 GF/GA right?
#42 Braeden Bowman is a keeper. He’s taking advantage of his opportunity. The Saad Father with a goal as well!
I was hoping for the SO, but it was not to be.
This is the result that the team needed to build confidence. A great effort for almost all 3 periods. Better puck protection and decisions. Commit this game from memory to instinct!
Pistol Pete
6’1” 205 Bowman is a natural in front of the net. Overall good strength on the puck all over the ice and will get stronger. Saw him hustle back into his own end too. Mark Stone comparisons are obviously
premature but there are indications in the style of play. Stone was a sixth round pick #178 and Bowman was undrafted. Who says low picks and undrafted can’t become great players? On to Minny to see if the kid can keep it going.
Richie-Rich
Woah! Slow down bucko. He’s got 2 games and 1 goal under his belt. Let’s see him sustain before we arbitrarily throw the great word around so carelessly.
Pistol Pete
Games in hand we have (we play tomorrow none of them do ):
LAK: 2
ANA: 1
EDM:3
SEA:1
SJS: 2
Brandon Saad did I ever give up on you? No not exactly. Thank you for playing your part in providing depth scoring these last two games.
Congrats Braeden Bowman on netting your first NHL goal in just your second NHL game. Eight shots in two games looking like a keeper buddy.
Another D man goal.
Hertl breaks the team breakaway scoring drought. Let’s give you a chance the next shootout!
Nice to see Pav add two assists (he needs to keep doing that) good things happen when he skates with Mitch Marner.
Another game whether win or lose where one has to like how goals are being scored namely get the puck to the net, net front playoffs style.
VGK’s near league historic streak of games allowing less than 30 shots still going.
Not quite a shutout Akira but 23/24 not too shabby. On to the Wild where Carl Lindbom will record his first NHL win!
Carter Hart backing up Jesper Vikman (Vikman loses the game 5-4). Trevor Connelly one assist. Another assist for my top D man prospect Viliam Kmec. Goal #7 for Tuomas Uronen can you say next forward call up (scratch Reinhardt)?
Pistol Pete
21/17 X 82 =101 pts
Should be no problem improving on that pace after this outlier of a “slow” start.
TS
WHEW!!The Positives this game??.EVERYTHING!!!
Pistol Pete
Akira Schmid back at .900. I was blaming him for losing the Islanders game and I probably had a point but really for a backup he’s overall been pretty solid. Take the good with the less good. Only one loss in regulation is making a good job of it. In any case our near term or not so near term fate may hinge on Carter Hart and who will be the backup.
https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/player/akira-schmid-8481033
Pistol Pete
One would certainly expect to see Hart in tonight’s back-to-back against the Wranglers. Also watch Connelly (1GP/1A/0), Uronen (9GP/7G/2A/+2) and Kmec (9GP/5A/0).
I know I referenced above the progress I see in getting the puck to the net (rush/forecheck pass from behind the goal line/O zone cycle shoot first muscle in front of the net) but nice see Bowman come up, be strong on the walls and go to the net, exactly what the group is trying to do and just reinforces the message.
Pistol Pete
Uronen 10GP not 9 my bad.
knights fan in minny
Good team win tonight but the Blues are awful Congrats to the young man Mr Bowman for his first NHL tally He’s played pretty well in his first two games he has not looked out of place at all Hope it keeps up today in minny I will be Rink side today
Jose
Braeden Bowman looks great in his two game stint so far. When Stone is back, I can’t see Bowman taking Saad or Smith’s job unless they become useless. Saad and Smith have been underwhelming so far but not terrible. I also don’t think it would make sense for Bowman to play on the fourth line for Cole Reinhardt. I’d rather Bowman keep developing in a top six role in Henderson.
It’s great to see that he doesn’t look out of place and competition puts the heat on the regulars.
I wonder if we will get a look at Tomas Uronen at some point this season.
Pistol Pete
We really need him to be good enough to stay here now!
Bim Jurke
I don’t want to be a downer but…
Is it not apparent that the Knights have only won a majority of their wins against … bad teams. I don’t believe their record against winning teams or playoff teams is very good. Beating up on cellar dwellers is not exactly a glaring endorsement in my opinion.
Jose
Bim Jurke, I don’t know if any Golden Knights fan is excited about the first quarter of the season. Considering the Mark Stone and Adin Hill injury and the permanent loss of Alex Pietrangelo, it could have been much worse.
It’s how they end the season more than how they start it. Losing petrol, and having all of the existing defenceman slot up a notch has had mixed results. Some good some bad.
Akira Schmid is showing us what I think we already knew, he’s just a depth guy, his ceiling is an NHL back up and he is probably number three on the depth chart after Hill and Carter are ready to go.
Braden Bowman is a nice story. Korczak has been as expected. He’s learning to be an every day NHLer.
By the time we hit the trade deadline, the best front office in the league will have enough information to know where to upgrade.
The improved Anaheim and San Jose pose some new challenges. It’s going to be an interesting a few months.
Emmanuel
Pete DeBoer linked to being hired in Nashvillle (Preds are a mess).
The coaching carousel continues…..
Larry
Just out of curiosity, if Hart is activated on December 1, how does he fit in under a salary cap that has no wiggle room?
I realize Hill, Karlsson and Stone are on LTIR, how does that all factor into everything, and then upon their return??