Recap: The Golden Knights began their three-game Western Canadian road trip with a matchup in Vancouver. The Canucks were careless with the puck several times in the opening period. Phil Kessel intercepted a pass in the offensive zone to score his 13th goal of the season. Later in the frame, Reilly Smith took advantage of a loose puck and doubled the Golden Knights’ lead.
The Canucks were awarded a penalty shot after the Golden Knights committed a penalty on a breakaway. JT Miller converted on the free chance and got his team within one. Teddy Blueger flipped a puck into the net on his backhand to give Vegas a 3-1 advantage but Miller and the Canucks came right back. Late in the period, Pavel Dorofeyev deflected on the Golden Knights’ fourth goal of the contest.
Midway through the final frame the Canucks scored making it a 4-3 game. Vegas fought off several Vancouver chances, including a 6-on-5 late in the game.
The Golden Knights’ record improves to 44-21-6 defeating the Canucks 4-3. Vegas will next play the Flames on Thursday night in Calgary. Puck drop is scheduled for 6 PM. (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: The Golden Knights scored early on the road once again and as they have all season long, they were able to parlay that into another win. The 1st period was absolutely brilliant on both ends, especially defensively, but things did not go as smoothly defensively as the game went on. It’s another one where VGK defy the advance stats. At some point, if it keeps happening, it’ll stop becoming an outlier. (Analysis by Ken)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs. Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena.
- Goalie Interference with Mike McKenna
Ken’s Three VGK Stars
*** Teddy Blueger
** Reilly Smith
* William Karlsson
Eichel uses his speed to close this thing out for VGK. Another game where they give up a ton of dangerous chances, but got a lead early and were able to make it hold up.
Now 22-3-1 when they score in the first 9 minutes.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) March 22, 2023
Forecheck completely ate the Canucks alive. They were dying to try and get the puck out, when they did, Hague brought it right back in and found some space. Might be the worst goal Demko has ever allowed against VGK. 3-1.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) March 22, 2023
What always impressed me about Dorofeyev as a prospect was his ability to hold the puck and slow the game down when he was carrying it. The first few times he came up to the NHL we didn't see it. It has this time around.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) March 22, 2023
Pistol Pete
7-4-0 = 108 pts
Make that Pav’s third game winner since his call-up. Four goals in five games. Gets the puck, holds it, shoots, goes to the net. Not necessarily in that order but everything Cassidy is looking for on the offensive side. Tending to the defensive side of the game as well per Cassidy post-game vs. CBJ.
Bobby
Another win for QUICK. And Dorofeyev is awesome. Keep it going in Calgary.
Jose
The emergence of Pavel Dorofeyev and Paul Cotter as legitimate NHL players is one of the best stories of the year.
Pistol Pete
Speaks well of VGK amateur scouting doesn’t it? Jacub Brabenec is next up in Henderson and I’m not yet giving up on Morosov (believe it or not).
Rashaad
Pistol Pete, you were correct on Pavel Dorofeyev so I trust your judgement on eventually seeing Jakub Brabenec and Ivan Morozov on the big club.
Pistol Pete
Rashaad thanks appreciate your vote of confidence. SinBin ranks Brabenec as the #1 prospect. While I surely disagree with Dorofeyev ranked the #13 overall prospect when he was by far the top HSK forward, I am looking forward to Brabenec’s probable appearance in Henderson next season. Whereas Dorofeyev’s 45 goals in 119 games pace will be nearly impossible for Brabenec to replicate, I am looking forward to seeing how he’ll do at the pro level. To be honest, Morozov is looking like a potential North America bust-out with a modest 6 G and 6A in 48 AHL games, but he’s a good skating 6’1” 200 pounder 22 year-old so only 48 games in I’m not giving up on him. He could still get more going at any time.
Pistol Pete
A Paul Cotter is why we don’t give up on a 6 G/6 A in 48 AHL games Ivan Morozov.
Cotter’s first season in the AHL:
4 G/5 A in 56 games
However Cotter was about two years younger his first AHL season compared to Morozov. Morozov got a late start. He turns 23 in July so next season will pretty much be boom or bust for him as far as making the NHL. Dorofeyev also got an earlier start in the AHL than Morozov, about a season and a half relative to his age.
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/284097/paul-cotter
Pistol Pete
With Roy coming back in I expect:
Scratch Amadio
Howden-Roy-Bleuger
If Kolesar comes back I expect:
Scratch Howden
Bleuger-Roy-Kolesar
Not sure actually if roster has the room with three goalies to scratch two forwards and keep the 7th D. Don’t think so. Someone has to get waived? Can’t imagine them moving Dorofeyev back to Henderson. He looks good in everything I see. Moves well, skates fast enough, excellent defensive stick, willing to block shots, back checks, plays intelligently in the D zone, holds the puck well, strong on the boards, gets inside (including can tip in), shoots. Good he’s on a line with good defensive players. Not that they cover for his mistakes, just that it pushes him all the more to keep up with their 200 ft. game.
JV
PP, what about waiving Karlsson? Nobody will claim him at 5.9 mil per. Bring him back for the playoffs. If someone does claim him, solves cap problem for next 4 seasons. Saves McCrimmon the job of giving away another player during the summer. Eichel. Stephenson, Roy, Bluger down the middle.
Henderson One
Howden often hurts with penalties.
THE hockey GOD
another game with high quality chances, living on the edge
Cassidy has team playing, meanwhile the WILD are now tied with STARS
in central for first place ! PDB learn anything from last year’s squeaky near losses ?
Meanwhile Cassidy has good chemistry going, why muck it up ?
Go with the flow.
No kneelers in NHL in last nite’s venue. Which is a GOOD thing !
GET THE POLITICS out of hockey, break the WOKESTERS sick and twisted agenda !! Just say NO to mental illness.
TS
There, thg…you FINALLY SAID IT: ” GET THE POLITICS out of HOCKEY”!!!
Mark this day, people. The HOCKEY GOD HAS CONCEDED THE OBVIOUS FACT THAT POLITICS HAS NO PLACE IN HOCKEY!!!
We’re gonna hold you to it, thg!!
knights fan in minny
now it will be boring
TS
Kfim, LOL… I’ll take BORING any day over the HATE. I’m just elated that thg has FINALLY figured out what everyone ELSE already has!! I’m ready to celebrate!! There CAN be peace in the valley, after all!!
THE hockey GOD
TS the only HATE
generated is by the wokesters and liberals.
Baby killers from the left wing agenda
invasion from south border, coyotes raping and killing women
high inflation killing middle class in name of sick/twisted green agenda
drag queens perverting kindergarden kids
liberals invading the church and molesting children
critical race theory BS in schools
dividing society.
cancel culture
weaponizing the justice department
buttfuck day at hockey rink
broke woke day at hockey rink
drag queen perverts at hockey rink
gender bender sickos at hockey rink
when will it ever end ???
the liberal ilk own this garbage
and as usual you are missing the point, the left will never sleep
wishful thinking
but you know it’s not happening, not in this life time.
sez me
ThG
THE hockey GOD
TS
why don’t you start complaining to VGK/ NHL to get rid
of
1) butt fuck day
2) gender bending day
3) fill in blank race day
4) fill in the blank male/female month day
If you are really serious, start with the problem.
But you won’t because you are brain washed into knowing that politics will stay in hockey, and they will never get rid of this because the broke woke folk agenda is generating too much hate and $$ for NHL.
TS
False alarm., people…thg is STILL in his OWN denial. Even after he admitted Politics has NO place in Hockey ( or ANY sports, I might add), he STILL uses his favorite finger as his default response “Screw you, deal with it”! I truly felt he had Seen the Light, had a ” Come to Jesus” moment, and had decided to Repent. BUT…..nope. His God has reassured him he can continue to be Nasty Man, offending others, attacking just about anything and everyone…he will still be Heaven- bound, Halo glowing. I am shattered. I thought God told us to love our neighbors. But, maybe God could need Evil- fighters like him to exterminate the “evil others”.
I am so confused now. I grew up thinking God was good he loved EVERYONE, , and he wanted us all to act the SAME. SNAP. I am mad at you, God — You tricked me into being GOOD all my life, and I coulda been NASTY all this time???? False advertising!! I demand a REFUND, God!
THE hockey GOD
TS
i will see it, then I believe it.
you know it’s not happening. Not in panty hose wearing GARY BETTMAN’s tenure (he wants to BAN FIGHTING, the nerve of it all ). The WOKESTERS will not have any of it.
Wait for the next FILL IN THE BLANK day.
Until it happens, stay the course. Politics are here to stay.
DEAL WITH IT
TS
Thg, you are positively CHARMING! You must be the HIT at every party!
Jailbird
On to Flames. We owe them an ass kicking!
TS
Jb. Damn right we do!!
knights fan in minny
the boys had to work for that win nice heads up play for phil the thrill on his goal does he look more engaged the last few games or am i seeing things the pleasent suprise pavel with a nice little tip in time for revenge on the flames
knights fan in minny
who was the backup netminder last night
Arnold Rothstein
i believe it was
a) LT
or
b) henderson goalie coach (unlikely)
because
1) patera was sent back to henderson two days ago
2) Adin Hill was listed as scratch in box score (which doesn’t show back up goalie)
3)Crossant is not listed
Logan Thompson Stats, News, Bio | ESPN
ESPN
https://www espn › nhl › player › logan-thompson
Status. active. 3 hours agoThompson (lower body) is expected to serve as the No. 2 option behind Jonathan Quick against the Canucks on Tuesday, per NHL dot crom
Kevin
It was LT …
Patera was sent down and so someone had to get the greenlight, and it was LT. Got the OK to play yesterday. My guess, he’ll be in net sometime on this trip.
knights fan in minny
great news
Ken Hates The FO
Morozov has barely been living in North America and playing NA hockey here for 12 months. Far from ready to close the book on him just yet.
I don’t see Howden getting bumped. I can see Nic Roy bumping Amadio but with the way things are going right now, I would healthy scratch Kolesar before having him bump anyone else out of the lineup.
THE hockey GODv
ken who hates the FO
has made some good points
Suggestion for the VGK management, check out the Vancouver tSN broadcast from last nite. The TV crew can learn a few things on how to broadcast a hockey game.
1) they seem to have camera view , right at ice level, right on face off dot. Don’t know how they do it
2) close up of all players
3) close wide angle view of all action, not like you are viewing game from peanut gallery
4) they don’t cut away during a ruckus, for quick buck for TV ad revenue. They stay with the action. The AMERICAN networks always cut away to a commercial or cut away to non action wheneve a scrum breaks out. It’s pathetic.
Need to learn more on how to BROADCAST a game. Learn from the people who invented the GAME in first place.
Richie-Rich
The VGK continues to surprise and this Season Ticket Holder is very happy with the Coaching. Petro hasn’t made a mistake since before the break. The additions of Bleuger and Barbashev are helping this team. Dorofeyev looks to be NHL ready. Carrier and Cotter looking very good as well. Some tough decisions to be made when Kolesar, Roy, and Carrier return.
When the playoffs start the VGK cannot afford to play on their heels like they have quite often since the break. More often than not those games are not going to go the same way they have during the season. It just seems to me that every time the opponent turns up the heat and closes space the VGK collapses right back into their own zone. This happens most often when the opponent gets more aggressive with their defensemen.
VGK is giving up way too many high danger shots in those situations. Sometimes, instead of trying to pressure the puck up through the zone, it might be best to pass it back and relieve some of that pressure at the red line. Circle back and open the ice back up.
108 points? There are 11 games left in the season. I only see 3 sure wins in the final 11, 3 losses and 5 that I rate as toss ups.
9-Game 11 @CGY (57pts,+5) 3/23 6pm. Ranked 22nd. Playing them again? In Calgary. I don’t like this matchup, especially in Calgary. VGK got a big beat down last time out 2-7. (TOSS UP)
10-Game 10 @EDM (60pts, +25) 3/25 7pm. Ranked 12th in the NHL. Wow, back-2-back games against McDavid and Draisatl? Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me. Edmonton is on a roll. (LOSS)
11-Game 09 EDM (60pts, +25) 3/28 7pm. See above notes. (TOSS UP)
12-Game 08 @SJS (41pts, -39) 3/30 7:30pm. Another no brainer MUST WIN game against the 30th ranked team in the NHL. But, on the road…. (WIN)
13-Game 07 MIN (58pts, +13) 4/01 7pm. At home against the Wild? What possibly could go wrong in this game against the 11th ranked team in the NHL? Another team currently on a good roll. (TOSS UP)
14-Game 06 @MIN 4/03 5pm. Ranked 11th See above. Must win the home game first. Lose at home and it won’t look good on 3 April. (LOSS)
15-Game 05 @NSH (54pts, -4) 4/04 5pm. Ranked 17th. Started the 2nd half against this team in Nashville. How’d we do the last time? With 5 games left this is the only sure one (WIN).
16-Game 04 LAK (63pts, -10) 4/06 7pm. Ranked 7th in the NHL which is a surprise. The Kings have gone from -10 to +18 in the past month! That’s a 28 goal swing! I had predicted the Kings to win the division and they are not disappointing their fanbase with their effort. Looks like the Pacific is going to be a photo finish this year. (TOSS UP at home)
17-Game 03 @DAL (66pts, +40) 4/08 12:30pm. Ranked 6th. These last 3 games could be either ones that define this team as a hot team going into the playoffs or one that is going to sink like a rock. Once again, this game is going to be a spotlight on McCrimmon as the VGK faces off against the Head Coach it fired at the end of last season. Lots of drama in this one. Lose this one and the last two might be meaningless.
(LOSS)
18-Game 02 SEA (63pts, +26) 4/11 7pm. Ranked 10th. Front office and coaching is on the right track unlike what happened in Vegas where the front office panicked and flushed All Star Coach and Vezina Goaltender. This game and the final one will define this team for the future. The drama is going to be thick. (WIN)
19-Game 01 @SEA 4/13 7:30pm. Ranked 10th. Last game of the season and the VGK has to hope that it doesn’t come down to this final game to get in or not. (TOSS UP)
I am going to call this 6-5 or 5-6 to finish the season. That’s 104-106 points and a likely 2nd or even 3rd place finish in the division.
Jailbird
After an exhausting 30 second review of the remaining schedule, I see a 7-4 finish for the Knights! You are welcome. 🙂
Richie-Rich
*****Corrected Copy***** some additional analysis and updated stats.
There are 11 games left in the season. I only see 3 sure wins in the final 11, 3 losses and 5 that I rate as toss ups. I am going to call this 6-5 or 5-6 to finish the season. That’s 104-106 points and a likely 2nd or even 3rd place finish in the division.
9-Game 11 @CGY (79pts,+3) 3/23 6pm. Ranked 17th (up 5 spots). In Calgary. I don’t like this matchup, especially in Calgary. VGK got a big beat down last time out 2-7. (TOSS UP)
10-Game 10 @EDM (88pts, +40 up +15 since last checked) 3/25 7pm. Ranked 12th in the NHL. Wow, back-2-back games against McDavid and Draisatl? Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me. Edmonton is on a roll. (LOSS)
11-Game 09 EDM (88pts, +40) 3/28 7pm. See above notes. (TOSS UP)
12-Game 08 @SJS (53pts, -70) 3/30 7:30pm. Another no brainer MUST WIN game against the 31st ranked team in the NHL (slipped from 30). But, on the road…. (WIN)
13-Game 07 MIN (90pts, +20 (up +7)) 4/01 7pm. At home against the Wild? What possibly could go wrong in this game against the 9th ranked team (up from 11) in the NHL? Another team currently on a good roll. (TOSS UP)
14-Game 06 @MIN 4/03 5pm. Ranked 9th See above. Must win the home game first. Lose at home and it won’t look good on 3 April. (LOSS)
15-Game 05 @NSH (78pts, -7) 4/04 5pm. Ranked 18th (slipped from 17). Started the 2nd half against this team in Nashville with a win. With 5 games left this is a must win if VGK wants the 1st or 2nd seed. (WIN).
16-Game 04 LAK (92pts, +18, up from -10 when last checked) 4/06 7pm. Ranked 7th in the NHL which is a surprise. The Kings have gone from -10 to +18 in the past month! That’s a 28 goal swing! I had predicted the Kings to win the division and they are not disappointing their fanbase with their effort. Looks like the Pacific is going to be a photo finish this year. (TOSS UP at home)
17-Game 03 @DAL (90pts, +48) 4/08 12:30pm. Ranked 8th slipped from 6th. These last 3 games could be either ones that define this team as a hot team going into the playoffs or one that is going to sink like a rock. Once again, this game is going to be a spotlight on McCrimmon as the VGK faces off against the Head Coach it fired at the end of last season. Lots of drama in this one. Lose this one and the last two might be meaningless.
(LOSS)
18-Game 02 SEA (85pts, +18) 4/11 7pm. Ranked 13th slipped from 10th. Front office and coaching is on the right track unlike what happened in Vegas where the front office panicked and flushed All Star Coach and Vezina Goaltender. This game and the final one will define this team for the future. Seattle has slipped a bit the past few weeks. Looks like they have fell out of contention for the Division crown. If they somehow crawl back into the race, the drama is going to be thick. (WIN)
19-Game 01 @SEA 4/13 7:30pm. Ranked 13th. Last game of the season and the VGK has to hope that it doesn’t come down to this final game to win the Division or Conference. (TOSS UP)
The VGK continues to surprise and this Season Ticket Holder is very happy with the Coaching. Petro hasn’t made a mistake since before the break. The additions of Bleuger and Barbashev are helping this team. Dorofeyev looks to be NHL ready. Carrier and Cotter looking very good as well. Some tough decisions to be made when Kolesar, Roy, and Carrier return.
When the playoffs start the VGK cannot afford to play on their heels like they have quite often since the break. More often than not those games are not going to go the same way they have during the season. It just seems to me that every time the opponent turns up the heat and closes space the VGK collapses right back into their own zone. This happens most often when the opponent gets more aggressive with their defensemen.
VGK is giving up way too many high danger shots in those situations. Sometimes, instead of trying to pressure the puck up through the zone, it might be best to pass it back and relieve some of that pressure at the red line. Circle back and open the ice back up.
Pistol Pete
Let’s not give up on Ivan Morozov (yet). As I posted above, Cotter’s first AHL season was even more modest than Morozov’s. Here is a prospect analysis on him from 2021.
https://thegamehaus.com/nhl/vegas-golden-knights-prospect-analysis-ivan-morozov/2021/09/04/
Pistol Pete
Why worry about prospects when heading into the postseason? True, focus on the here and now, it’s just that the VGK prospect pool is underrated imo. Just want my feelings on that to be known. Thank you.
THE hockey GOD
RR is stir crazy about prospects !!
NO 8
is heating up !
knights fan in minny
heads up play on the goal from the thrill
Jose
I hope that Logan Thompson will get to start tonight against what will be a very desperate Calgary Flames team.
knights fan in minny
that would be awesome