Recap: The Golden Knights were looking to get off to a good start to their five-game road trip with a victory in Toronto. The Maple Leafs opened the scoring nine minutes into the game and held on to a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
Tensions begin to increase in the middle frame. Zach Whitecloud made an open ice hit which the Maple Leafs took issue with. The hit set up a flurry of penalties and power play opportunities. Unfortunately, Vegas couldn’t convert on either of their man-advantage chances and Toronto remained ahead by one goal.
Vegas committed an early hooking penalty in the final period setting the home team up for a two-goal lead. Vegas had trouble finding quality shots in the final 20 minutes and was forced to pull their goalie. Toronto went on to add an empty net to shutout Vegas 3-0.
The Golden Knights record drops to 11-6-2 falling to the Maple Leafs 3-0 in Toronto. Vegas will get back to work tomorrow night in Ottawa. Puck drop against the Senators is scheduled for 4 PM. (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: The Golden Knights ran into a Toronto team that plays a much different style than we are used to and they kind of fell into the trap. VGK settled for shots well away from the front of the goal and they didn’t win enough loose pucks in front of the goal to cash in. Defensively, the issues continue and it’s something new every night. Tonight it was 2-on-1’s that did them in. (Analysis by Ken)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs. Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena.
- Power play proficiency
Ken’s Three VGK Stars
*** Brayden McNabb
** Ivan Barbashev
* Zach Whitecloud
3 takeaways from the game, presented by @dotvegasinc
1) Lots of shots but not enough directly in front of the goal or second and third chances. Shot counter looks good, actual danger not as much.
2) There’s going to be frustrating about them getting shutout but the bigger issue… pic.twitter.com/Et5ghqt629— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) November 21, 2024
This has become annoying. https://t.co/zuDPNINvj4
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) November 21, 2024
Stunning that there was a terrible call in the 1st period. pic.twitter.com/2DXL5ywY3J
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) November 21, 2024
DeezNutz
I hope our useless Captain enjoyed watching that one
FG
VGK are not a good team without Stone, now 2-3-1. By comparison, Toronto without Matthews is 6-1.
DeezNutz
That’s because we’ve built a team with a defense core expected to play flawless every night to cover for mediocre goaltending while at the same time score all of our goals for us.
The hockey God
Hill was excellent in goal, he saved their bacon more than once. The key to game was their PK was better than VGK PP. Goal tending wasn’t an issue. Also, VGK only has one line right now. Rest are all line 4 caliber players, and the bottom line is really an AHL line. [petro -2.
The team has too much dead wood, and you know how you can tell you have dead wood? In water it floats to top, in ice it just sits there frozen, still, silent.
BTW Whitey should have been shown the door, the hit was bad. They benched him for awhile.
Richie-Rich
Rarely do I agree 100% with ThG, but today is one of those days. Hill did play extremely well and stopped numerous high danger chances. Without Stone, this team can only roll 1 good line. Give Cassidy credit, he’s thrown everything out there except the kitchen sink to try and patch the hole left yet again by Mark Stone. I heard Stone was skating in a red jersey but not practicing. That means he is likely still another week away from returning. By that time, I predict we will slip to 3rd or 4th place in the Division.
This team isn’t built for a legitimate Cup run. Not enough consistency and not good enough defensively. McNabb has proven to be the most solid defenseman they have. Petro is streaky. When he’s off he is way off. When he is on, he’s elite. Hanifan is almost a carbon copy. Whitecloud takes too many penalties.
I think the Knights should have made a one year investment in Martinez. Awesome on the PK. Also, Eichel has been a great 200 foot player, but there’s too much pressure on him to score with Stone on the ice and he’s getting caught out of position in the OZ too often trying to make things happen. It’s sort of like San Francisco having to play so many games without Christian McCaffrey. They looked like a mediocre average team without him despite other weapons.
A deep playoff run is going to be dependent on what, if anything, this team can add at the trade deadline.
Whitey should have been assessed a major and ejected from the contest in the first period for that hit on Toothless.
Richie-Rich
Game 19 Analysis TOR 3, VGK 0
Record 11-6-2, 24pts, +12gf/ga
Pacific 1st Place, 1pt ahead of the Kings & Flames
Western Conference 3rd Place behind the Jets(32), Wild(27)
On a night where Hill and the Defense played well, the offense failed to register a single goal. It’s been quite awhile since the Golden Knights were shutout. I will let Ken point that out.
The referees allowed a first period boarding on Shea Theodore go without a penalty. I was surprised to see Shea return to this game as it looked as if he had whatever teeth he has left knocked out and a huge hole in his forehead. In any case, there was no penalty and the physicality went up from there with Whitecloud delivering a solid body shot in the 2nd period. That hit was reviewed and no major was assigned.
I guess the story of this game has to be 0 for 3 on the power play. The Maple Leafs went 1/2 on theirs. Toronto blocked a total of 25 shots, so credit their defense for a game well played.
Again, the absence of a healthy Mark Stone makes this team look average. Cassidy has jumbled the lineups and even has tried playing Korczak and Theodore on the wing, but to no avail. Without Mark Stone, this isn’t a top tier team. They simply must have Stone in this lineup to get them to that level.
Next up is Ottawa on a back to back night.
Ottawa is 8-9-1 and in 5th place in the Atlantic -1gf/ga
Top Dog
That non call was horrific, but it didn’t matter. The vGk didn’t have their legs and their AHL players, played , like well AHL players. Team needs to fill more than one hole. Stone is not the answer. Oleffsson son son son son son is not the answer.
Butch Cassidy
You know it was a dumpster fire game when that loaf Zach Whitecloud gets a game star according to this post game report.
I hope this team can turn it around and this team sucks without Stone because Hertl can’t play better than a 4th liner unless he is facing bottom of the barrel Pacific division teams.
I knew Marchessault hated the coach and didn’t speak to him for weeks so I’m wondering if the coach is starting to wear thin on the rest of the players.
We should have a good idea by the end of this roadtrip where this roster stands without Stone reminding them to do their job
The hockey God
quit stirring the pot with bull shit conspiracy theories that don’t come close to the truth.
Butch Cassidy
It was reported by the VGK media and part of their cup run book.
I don’t generally reply to THG since you seem unhinged but wanted to provide proper context for the sane people who read this blog.
Don’t forget to take your meds
JB
Well, we can’t expect to score much against a hall of fame goalie! Ha This wasn’t a horrible game by us, but we couldn’t convert our PP, they did. Tomorrow night we play a team that is pissed off and ready to kill somebody. So it’s not going to get any easier.
larry
Theodore….i didnt know why we extended him when they did and i have less understanding of it each time i watch him play….and certainly each time he fumbles the puck at the blue line on the PP which is a virtual certainty each and every game causing a reset and valuable seconds off the clock…speaking of which we seem to routinely lose the opening faceoff when the PP commences which does not give us a chance to set up in the zone and causes a reset utilizing Eichel to carry the puck into the offensive zone….further on the PP Stone is quite obviously missed but we need to make due with what we have…i would much prefer to see Hanifin on the first unit because of his north-south skating skill which Theo doesnt posess as well as he penetrates from the blue line which Shea never does….the same applies for Petro as it helps to keep the PP active and not sedentary in their actions….regardless to this part of their game i think tomorrow is not going to be pretty as we are on a back to back and the Sens took a whooping bt the oilers last game…i guess hope for the best is the only option.
ThG
I …..agree…..with ….most ….. of ….. what …..you …. are ….trying …. to …..say.
larry
Cute…lol!!
Leonard Wise
I think all this is showing is the lack of depth this team has. Toronto is even more injured than we are and they are playing well. The flaws are beginning to show. Cassidy is looking for answers. Just doesn’t have them.
TS
Well, i turned on a fight, and a Hockey game broke out! That was UGLY. The Leafs came out to fight, and though the boys tried to match the intensity, it was no match. I’ll keep on saying it: we’re too soft for the Beasts in the East or the Bad Boys up North! And the refs say PLAY ON!! Ugly game all around. To hear fans yell “Refs Suck!” is pretty ironic, given the Theodore Board- bashing. I think their F-A-N-S SUCK!!
Tim
Carolina, Washington, and now Toronto all just overpowered us so that tells me we can’t play with the big boys. Stone’s a big key but like the Patch man was you can’t count on him to play and then he comes back and gets hurt again. Very frustrating to say the least.
Jim
Vgk= bad without Dad
11-0-1 with Poppa, and then 2 bad losses in a row without them. Father knows best
JB
Could be ugly tonight? The Sens are on the prowl tonight.