Recap: The Golden Knights were looking to start December off on the right foot with a home victory against the Chicago Blackhawks. Vegas struck first thirty seconds into the opening period. Ivan Barbashev was awarded his 9th goal of the season but Chicago immediately answered back. After twenty minutes of action the game was locked in a 1-1 tie.
Chicago snapped the 1-1 tie with an unassisted goal midway through the period. Vegas defenseman Ben Hutton evened the score 2-2 with his 3rd goal of the season.
Blackhawks star Connor Bedard scored on a brilliant individual move to regain his team’s advantage. Vegas heavily pressured Chicago in the final frame and it paid off. Braeden Bowman scored his fifth goal to even the score 3-3 and force overtime.
Eventually the game was decided by Vegas in a shootout where Pavel Dorofeyev and Shea Theodore scored while Carter Hart stopped three of four.
The Golden Knights record improves to 12-6-8 defeating the Blackhawks 4-3 in SO. Next up, Vegas will hit the road for the next five games beginning on Friday. Puck drop against the New Jersey Devils is scheduled for 4 PM. (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: This was not a particularly good game for the Golden Knights from a systems perspective. They allowed a heap of odd-man rushes, which led to Bedard’s snipe and a bundle of penalties. VGK’s offense just never really got sustained pressure and even when they did the Knight in the other goal was very good. But, they kept pushing down the stretch and found a way to get the game tied. In overtime, the Hawks were all over the Golden Knights, but Hart kept them in it with a few great stops. Theodore won it with his favorite move in shootout. (Analysis by Ken)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs. Chicago Blackhawks at T-Mobile Arena.
- An undecided story from Jason
Ken’s Three VGK Stars
*** Braeden Bowman
** Carter Hart
* Shea Theodore
Pistol Pete
Points pace: 32/26 x 82 =101
Carter Hart difference maker in OT (27/30 = 0.900)
Braeden Bowman 11GP/5G/4A (-2)
Second place one point back of Ducks no games in hand (Kings lost to Caps at home…thank you LT lol).
Pistol Pete
Thank you btw Pav for your contribution in the SO. Theo goes without saying lol.
Pistol Pete
Did I forget to mention our man from Henderson’s net front battling netted us the game-tying goal in the waning minutes of regulation? Yes I think I did!
TS
AHA, PP!! I KNEW you’d still hang in there!! Glad you did! Btw, i kinda like those those rose-colored glasses you wear– i wouldn’t mind a pair myself!
Scott
Bam Bam with the huge goal to get us to OT. He’s young, but he has a nose for the net and makes plays! With all the young guys around the league like Bedard, Celebrini and Carlsson tearing it up, it’s good to see we have a solid undrafted youngster helping to carry the VGK torch. Great finish for BB!!
hdbiker7851
Great win – fortunately we don’t have to depend on Eichel and Marner in shoot outs. Marner had a great chance to win the game in regulation but blew it. Happy for Hart – a lot of pressure on the guy and he afforded Vegas the win with his performance. Onward and upward.
TS
DANG. Damn game wasn’t available for me!! CURSES! Wish i had seen it…my initial google feed had us losing 5-3…who says AI knows all??
Emmanuel
Listen to the radio broadcast. You can also do other things while you listen.
TS
…like sleep through the radio broadcast! I guess i’m a visual person, i need to see it, or i lose interest! (I think i hv attention deficit issues– lol)
Pistol Pete
Important demanding road trip upcoming. None of these are real dogs either not really not right now: NJD/NYR/NYI/PHI/CBJ
Scott
At least the guys get to stay in the same hotel rooms for several days. It’s one of the better trips for sure!
Emmanuel
So whos the starter when Hill returns?
Whos the backup?
Are the other 2 guys trade bait?
Is Hill trade bait?
DocG
Really good news, I didn’t hear any of the predicted boos when Hart was introduced, there may have been some but not enough to overcome the positive reaction.
Emanuel asked Is Hill trade bait? Too early for that, but yes if Hart works out as well long term as he did in overtime.
If it comes to this management needs to do something different and keep the better goalie. No more Lehner for Fleury or Hill over Thompson blunders.
Pistol Pete
As has been explained over and over again do you let your Cup-winning goalie walk or do you sign him to a two year extension to expire the same year as Thompson’s ELC? You sign Hill and leave open the option of picking Thompson at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. That is exactly what McCrimmon shrewdly did. Unfortunately Thompson jumped ship the louse. Deserted the team that gave him his start. Maybe he really was
misbehaving around his teammate’s women though we may never know.
Emmanuel
“Cup Winning Goalie”? 20ish guys won the Cup it would be foolish to credit one dude. Why didnt he “win” the Cup the following season? Thats all narrative……
Larry
It actually made perfect sense to sign Hill at that time, even though I felt they vastly overpaid him, I still think it was done to keep him from signing with the &$&$( oilers.
What makes absolutely no sense was signing him to that contract they signed him to last year and for the length of time to given his track record of being a middling goalie.
Larry
Personally I’m glad we got the win as it was needed, and even more so cause kings and $&();& oilers lost too, and I’m further personally happy game was on espn+ so I didn’t have to watch the game, cause based on comments and updates VGK was outplayed most of the game, which would have led to a lot of shaking my head and grumbling about their ineffectiveness at 5 x 5.
For this game the You Tube 10 minute highlight video was sufficient enough, I have had my doubt about Bedard the first 2 years, doubts now removed, he is a magician and that shot. DAMN!!!!
Sadly I also couldn’t help but notice how incredibly easy it was for Eichel to lose the opening faceoff in overtime, I still think it’s a better option to put Hertl out there to give the team a better chance and then replace him with Eichel, despite his travails in overtime, and as a side note to Hanifin and all the others, lift and elevate the effing puck!!
knights fan in minny
Good win for the boys Hart What’s real good did that get Hill’s attention Shoot the damn puck pass Happy Vegas passing up chances to shoot on Net again the future looks pretty bright in Chicago Bedard is simply amazing Night is a good young goaltender and they have the speed which kills Vegas at times Big bommy getting a goal playing tough in front of the net Theo with a nice shootout goal for the win
JB
Finally a OT/SO win. Hart made a couple mistakes but was really good I thought, and saved our ass in OT! That Knight kid could be one of the goalies for the USAin the Olympics? Now,the annual December east coast trip. Always fun.
knights fan in minny
Question is Are hills days in Vegas number If you traded him who would want him My guess is they would have to pay a chunk of his salary in a trade I know it’s only the first game for Hart Is not bad He looks cool and comfortable in the net well like I said it’s only one game Thoughts from the people on the board here Hey Cortana
Scott
Minny, I don’t think the new CBA allows for teams to retain salary in a trade any longer
knights fan in minny
Did not hear that one good to know
JB
Yea,think it will be hard to trade hill. A big goalie salary to take on?
Scott
Calgary for Rasmussen Andersson would be the logical spot. They need to get something for him before he becomes an UFA at the end of the season, and his salary is about comparable to Hill’s.
NAM
Trades can still have retention up to 50%, but you can no longer get a 3rd party to retain more salary, in season, unless you wait 75 days.
Frank
First star of the night – Carter Hart. Finally a goalie who may be able to steal a game or two for us in extra time…..
Larry
KEN,I think the Carter Hart ‘situation ‘off the ice discussion has run its course here, opinions and viewpoints have been aired, now hopefully is the time to return back to its hockey roots, and have the opinions and viewpoints pertain to hockey and specifically Golden Knights hockey. Thank you!
steve
From your mouth to Ken’s ears, im all aboard with that suggestion.
TS
Agreed. I think Ken was correct in bringing up the Hart situation to inform.fans, but now it’s HOCKEY TIME!!
We’ll let Hart prove himsekf, both on.and off the ice. GO KNIGHTS!!
Ken Boehlke
No one individual, myself included, gets to decide when it has “run its course.” If there continues to be public outcry about it, it will continue to be a story. I am going to continue covering the responses from him, from his teammates, from fans, and anything else newsworthy surrounding it.
Also, a major piece of this has yet to speak on it, Kelly McCrimmon. That side of the story remains to be covered as well, which also ties into future decisions the team makes.
Larry
I appreciate the response, I guess we will both see if there should be a continued appetite for discussion of this situation, my feeling is not because I believe most of your regular posters are more concerned about the performance on the ice, as well as how Hart in particular finds his role in the community by helping out and giving back.
On a hockey note, I wonder how VGK will respond to the suddenly very aggressive devils this afternoon, hopefully and best way to respond is scoring on the Power Play!