Recap: The Golden Knights returned home for two game set beginning with the Dallas Stars. Dallas took the opening lead by striking first 1:37 into the game.
Vegas’ Keegan Kolesar quickly tied the game early in the second period with his fifth goal of the season. The Stars regained their lead midway through the frame and added two more goals before the break. After 40 minutes, the Golden Knights trailed 4-1.
Reilly Smith got Vegas within two with a quick shorthanded goal. Ten minutes later, Ivan Barbashev scored to make a one-goal contest. Vegas pulled Adin Hill with time winding down and Mitch Marner came through with the game-tying goal. After 60 minutes, the game needed overtime and a shootout to determine the winner.
The Golden Knights record drops to 25-14-14 falling to the Stars 5-4 in SO. Next up, Vegas will host the Seattle Kraken on Saturday. Puck drop against the Kraken is scheduled for 7 PM. (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: You’ll never believe how this game went! VGK went down real quickly, then eventually fell into a deep hole. Climbed their way all the way out of it with an awesome 3rd period, then lost in shootout. Could probably copy/paste this for a third of the games this season. It’s astounding. (Analysis by Ken)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs. Dallas Stars at T-Mobile Arena.
- Conditioning helping VGK be good in 3rd period
Ken’s Three VGK Stars
*** Keegan Kolesar
** Mitch Marner
* Ivan Barbashev
Richie-Rich
Game 53 Analysis DAL 5, VGK 4 OTL
The boys battled back once again in the 3rd with a great effort.
HILL SUCKS
DUMP HIM
That’s the analysis.
Ruthless babe
shootout sieve strikes again
JB
Another great comeback. Same OT/SO curse, but, got a point!
Hdbiker7851
Vegas can’t score enough goals with Hill in the net. End of story it’s unfortunately the fact. His demour is enough to make one sick.
Pistol Pete
Shoot-outs definitely not Hill’s forte. Don’t much care for them anyways. How much closer can you get to a tie? Anyways for the umpteenth time an OTL is not a loss. You get a point. And I ask you: how much better earned is that point down 4-1 entering the third?
Hdbiker7851
PP – hill doesn’t have a forte of any kind. He is a liability. It was a great come back. The mystery is why they can’t play 60 minutes of hockey. The Cup was won by the team Hill just happened to be a long. Any he does stop are purely an accident. They are a better team when Hill is on the bench or better yet down in Henderson
Henderson One
Why they signed this guy for five years is a mystery to me. Probably can not find a taker for a trade.
A Fan
OTL has the word LOSS right in it.
Emmanuel
This conversation has been going on for months:
PP emphasizes the point gained gained in the standings.
Some of us look at the won-loss record & are concerned by it.
Both of us are “right”.
I will reiterate that a couple of days ago VGK were 18th in Wins, which Is disturbing (theyve probably dropped).
A Fan
Hill & Lehner both love break aways and shoot outs…oh wait…my bad.
Hdbiker7851
Enough goals to win with Hill in the net. in case you were wondering.
DeezNutz
This team can’t win skills competitions because they don’t really have all that much skill. They have a bunch of players that can pass pucks at an elite level but not many players that can receive those passes or convert them to actual goals. I find it actually pathetic that it takes Mitch Marner to finally score from the blue line when we have Theodore, Hanifin and now Andersson that are suppposed to be doing that from time to time which rarely happens because Cassidy’s “defense first” system doesn’t allow them that luxury. So now we have 3 offensive minded D-men that are all utilized as mediocre shut down D-men and a forward group that lacks speed and size to get anywhere near the front of the net to score dirty goals or capitalize on rebounds. Add to that we have one of the worst goalies in the entire league that doesn’t have really have any strengths besides one 5 week stretch of good goaltending 3 years ago.
I still think Cassidy has until December of next season before he’s fired if this team keeps playing like this and he’s not the problem. The makeup of this team just does not suit his style of hockey and the signing of Marner probably just accelerated his firing.
This team is unlikeable and I’m looking forward to the Olympic break so I don’t have to watch these guys for a bit.
JB
Then quit watching!
DeezNutz
Oh fuck off JB
Pistol Pete
Spare us (per usual)
Jose
JB is right. Nobody is forcing you to watch. Stop watching. JB just fixed your horrible life. You no longer need to watch. You never did.
knights fan in minny
Get lost a little nutz No one wants you here
TS
N-o-t a Cassidy problem!! HE CAN’T PLAY FOR THEM, SCORE FOR THEM, OR THINK FOR THEM!!!!!!
Grown men don’t need babysitters, they need to play like their paychecks are worth it!!!
Richie-Rich
Actually Stone, Hertl, Kolesar and Bowman are all good enough to score in front of the net. The problem with this team isn’t offense it is turnovers and mediocre to poor goaltending. We are 53 games into the season and the VGK are only +8 GF/GA. That’s a bad sign. You can see the frustration on Cassidy’s face. He said he had to sit the team down after period 2 to watch a video on “how to fix” the issues. He’s getting pretty pissed at this point. Hill isn’t game ready and his performance since the Cup run has been horrendous. He sucks in shootouts and breakaways. That first shot went directly between his legs. He seems to be half asleep, slow, and definitely has lost lateral movement. I don’t care how much he’s being paid, you play to win. This isn’t the first time the FO has thrown a goalie under the bus. It’s Hill’s turn to go. I have seen enough of #33, actually way too much.
NAM
I actually agree with what you are saying, for the most part. Don’t let the forum Karens get to you. Your point of the 3 offensive d men just plays to the large theme that this team isn’t constructed well. There is talent on this team, no question, but a lot of it isn’t complementing and then enter AHL players or bottom line players and you can’t even make 3 solid lines most of the time without huge holes. Especially when one line has to be loaded to have a chance. Cassidy is not the issue here. It’s the GM who has ignored needs, for a couple of season now, and instead looks to the shiny objects. Cassidy can only go with what he has to work with.
Leonard Wise
I think the time has co.e to fire Kelly. Giving a 2 nd and a 1st and Whitecloud to get Anderson is utter incompetence. On top of this we have to pay him 9 million for 8 years. Not to mention the 6 million 6 year dealfor Hill. When is the last time Hanafin has scored another overpay. Theodore another long term contract at age 30. He’s desperation is showing. Look at the Lenher disaster. New leadership is needed at the top. Like Ken said we keep buying the same player. How many here are comfortable paying a long term high dollar contract to Anderson. I was at the game Hill is awful why did we give up Whitecloud in the trade a first and second was enough. By the way almost as many Stars fans as VGK. We’re becoming the Raiders
Pistol Pete
Andersson will have to settle for 7 and change maybe even 6 something. He wants to be here and
came knowing he’s not worth more than Theo or Hanifin and that the team is strapped for cap especially with Dorofeyev. Players and their agents evaluate a team’s cap space before agreeing to a trade.
TS
Leonard, don’t JINX the Knights!!
Richie-Rich
Theodore is turnover prone. He’s a terrific skater with the puck but he’s inconsistent as hell. One second your cheering and the next your slapping your hand against your forehead. The Andersson acquisition isn’t something I am ready to bitch about. Whitecloud was a solid 3rd line defenseman. Let’s hope Andersson is better.
SHS
To be honest, while I love Zach and his locker room presence, he was the most turnover prone of all the d men. Ras is a huge upgrade both on d and on o
Walt
ahhh, what a division. the Pacific…
where you can lose your way to the top.
Edm 28 wins
Ana 28
SJ 27
Sea 25
Vgk 25 wins
but guess who is in first place?
that’s right. Bettman’s loser point to the rescue.
temporarily, but I think real fans would prefer wins and saves.
it won’t be worth a Hill of beans if they keep playing the 3 game winner instead of the 15 game winner.
the Swiss army knife(40)
vs the swiss cheese (33)
TS
Walt, CHUCKLES!! Love the analogy!!
Richie-Rich
“a HILL of BEANS”, LOL … I see what you did there. Mahvellouusss….
Pistol Pete
I agree with Andersson who knows a lot better than
any of us: “real contender one of the top teams in the league”. I attended this game saw the action with my own two eyes. Rasmus is right. This is a good team without the best starting goalie right at this point in time I would agree.
Hill’s career stats remain respectable despite this season. Something seems amiss such as not fully recovering from this season’s early LTIR. We’ll see. If in fact he is the liability fans seem to think he is McCrimmon will do something about it.
Leonard Wise
McCrimmon can’t do anything with Hill since he’s another overpay. Anderson is just saying the right thing he knows VGK will overpay him. He needs to be fired this team isva poorly constructed team that has given away all its assets. The cupboard is empty.
Pistol Pete
You don’t know that for sure about Hill.
So assuming Calgary gave permission for McCrimmon to discuss a possible trade for Andersson, you don’t think Andersson agreed to be traded to Vegas with a salary in mind one the team can afford?
Yet another post from you implying you are right and the GM is wrong. Have I ever implied I am more qualified than McCrimmon that I am more qualified than he to run the team? Nope in fact I can say for sure I am not. Therefore when he decides upgrading Whitecloud is worth the price I know I am not qualified to question it. Not so for you apparently.
McCrimmon and Sean Burke will figure out the goaltending situation if necessary.
Richie-Rich
McCrimmon’s strategy of building a winner through trades has served him well. Cup in 6! However, the team that one the Cup was much better on defense and had a very solid 3rd and 4th lines. Those lines are gone and have been replaced with players who are trying to find their groove. I point to the loss of Pietrangelo and Martinez as two of the major reasons why their was a Cup in 6. Where I believe mistakes were made is in managing the goaltenders. Logan Thompson was the right move by Kelly. Then, the team pulled the rug out from under him while he was injured. I don’t blame LT for being pissed. You don’t demote your starter because he’s injured even if the backup plays well. Sure, LT was ELC at the time. It doesn’t matter. Logan earned the #1 in my opinion. Hill played over his head for a couple of weeks and won a Cup. In hindsight anyone playing behind that D could have won the Cup. Both Robin Lehner and Aidin Hill were unforced errors by this front office. Let’s also give some credit to both LB and Quick for their play in Season 6. This team was destabilized in Season 7 and we’re lucky we are in the Pacific Division. +8 GF/GA isn’t indicative of a Cup Contending team at this point in the season.
Stone, Dorofeyev and Marner are having A+ seasons. I’d give Eichel an A, and Hertl a B+. The rest are getting C- or D grades. Goaltending gets mixed reviews. Hill gets an F, Schmid gets a C, Lindbom D, and Hart gets an excused absence. McNabb is sorely missed on Defense. Despite mixed grades between lines 1 & 2 and 3 & 4, this team is scoring enough goals to win.
Puck Management & Turnovers – Solid Grade of F
Defense – D
That’s the fan analysis.
TS
Pp, agree that Hill isn’t the same player now. Injuries can slow, hinder, diminish a player..Hill is not close to 100%. Either he returned too soon, or he will NEVER recover completely..either way, he is a liability now.
What the heck does Cassidy do with him??
Pistol Pete
Seriously any “fan” who thinks this team is “poorly constructed”, making that claim after watching the team erase a third period three goal deficit (just one
of many examples) needs to enroll themselves in hockey school and study up.
Pistol Pete
My observations of the game:
Hill was actually good in the OT if not able to defend the shoot-out.
Bowman-Marner-Dorofeyev looks good.
Barbashev seems to belong on the Eichel line and Smith should be fine down with Hertl.
Howden should work with Hertl-Smith moving Kolesar back down to the fourth but he has been surprisingly impactful up a line.
Found the fourth line consisting of the two AHL’ers plus Holtz to be excellent in this game. Defended well no goals against moved the puck up the ice and forechecked well just overall playing hard. I sense Holtz has finally turned the corner playing hard and diligently in all three zones. With Howden and Sissons back I can see Holtz-Sissons-Kolesar, Holtz in favor of Saad maybe but if Saad makes it back from injury Cassidy will put him in initially as well he should.
Even with Karlsson out (Marner at center) and Howden, Sissons and Saad all out I find this forward group to be surprisingly deep. Cassidy does a good job.
Andersson an obvious upgrade over Whitecloud and is off to a fast start offensively with 1G/2A in his first four games.
Hill’s numbers better than Otteinger this game Oettinger had a lot more shots blocked in front of him too.
Emmanuel
Im surprised by Kolesar, hes a legit 3rd liner, but no higher!
Tim
Another point forget any pride to lose how many games an get the consolation prize of a point were blazing new trails in that department. I’m starting to believe Eichel and Marner are a lot of show and no go. I could care how many deluded assists they get show me the puck in the net.
JB
Well Tim, Marner DID show you the puck in the net, to tie game in last minute! Or did you not see that ?
Tim
Even a squirrel finds an acorn once in a while. Is Dorofeyev our leading scorer? what does that say about our super stars. It tells me the way we keep losing and have offensive issues maybe there over paid Prima Donna’s.
TS
Re: SO: I can’t understand how a player in a SO misses the net! I mean, ir’s a FREE shot, unhindered, no D to get in the way….gotta be MENTAL..
Larry
Why is a proven threat in a shootout like Theodore not among the first 2 skaters?
Why does Eichel have to skate right in front of the goalie with virtually no room to get a decent shot off?
Why does Pav go through the dekes rather than just pick a spot in the net to shoot at with his lethal wrist shot?
Parenthetically, how was that even possible for Hill’s 5 hole to be that wide open a tractor trailer could have driven through?
Why? Why? Why?
Larry
Regarding Cassidy talking about ‘insanity’, while it may or may not have affected the overtime session, why would he CONTINUALLY put Eichel out there for the opening faceoff when possession is key , and he loses the faceoff clean virtually every time??
Vic
Only explanation for Hill being in net last night is he has a compromising video of George, Kelly and Bill prancing around in their boxers. The dreaded first goal on the first shot set the pace….again. Hill looks slow and if he does something quick like a split save, he goes to LTIR…again. I thank Hill for helping win the cup, but this is painful.
Rrale
No sure why everyone is surprised about Hill’s lack of SO ability. I believe it was Hill a few years ago that came out and said he does not like them, about the same time as Thompson said he does like them. Something about the challenge of the one on one.
IMO, Knights need to score 5 or more goals per game if they want a chance to win.
I was wondering why the TV commentor’s kept talking about how tired the players are? Why doesn’t Eichel shoot the puck more in OT?
A Fan
It was actually Lehner who made those comments about shoot outs. Maybe Hill did also but I don’t recall that.
Larry
What actually might work better in overtime if and when VGK have control of the puck, is to take the puck off his stick in the defensive zone, give it to Hanifin or Marner with speed and try to headman to Eichel so he can utilize his speed in open ice, and then get too close to the goalie to get off a legitimate shot!
Actually, I was half way off the couch to celebrate when I saw Stone receive that pass from Theodore cause for sure I thought it was going in!
Craig teglia
Lehner oops I mean hill
trade
One possibility might be a trade of Hill to Minnesota for Wallstedt. He is apparently on the trade block, and Minny would get a veteran cup winning goalie….cough, cough
Vgk could retain half to make the money work. 3.1 for 2.2
Wallstedt 23 years old, 6ft 3in, 222 pounds
13-5-4 with 2.71 .914 and 4 shutouts
vgk21
I like this trade. but I doubt that Guerin is naive enough to really do it.
knights fan in minny
Billy G Would never go for that He is targeting Tage Thompson or another center
Pistol Pete
I truly think the anti-Hill sentiment is to degree a distortion of reality. Even when he has questionable moments there are good saves as well sometimes spectacular. For example if he was so horrible all game which the critics make it sound like how do you explain why he was very good in OT (not the shoot-out)? And what about his SV % being better than Oettinger’s and with 12 fewer blocked shots? The guy is 2-2-1 coming off LTIR. GA/SV % are not good those 5 games but his career stats are fine. Give the guy a chance.
Henderson One
Did you see that first goal last night?
Bob K
I don’t often comment but I do enjoy reading the comments. I totally agree with Larry about the opening face off in OT. Hertl should be taking that face off and immediately go to the bench and put Eichel on the ice. Toronto did that with Taveras (who won the face off) against the Knights. Winning the face off in OT puts a team on its toes and not their heals. I have great respect for Cassidy but I disagree with him on this particular issue. Maybe he is afraid of bruising Eichel’s ego but a team must maximize its opportunities to be CHAMPIONS. In my opinion this is a missed opportunity.
Emmanuel
Im glad you got your January comment in before the deadline.
KnightWatch
This is another reason why we miss Wild Bill.
I think the problem lies in if he (Hertl) wins the face off great, we can make the change. If not we’re stuck with a different mix of players and not a situation which is Hertl’s strong suit.
Imo Karlsson is better defensively than Hertl in that situation.
Of course none of that matters because we don’t have Karly.
For a time Jack’s face offs seemed to improve but it “appears” in those win or lose the game situations we’ve been on the wrong side more lately.