Recap: The Golden Knights opened up their ninth NHL season with a Pacific Division battle against the Los Angeles Kings. The visitors took an initial lead 4:47 into the game and doubled it seven minutes later. Vegas had a late period power play but only took one shot on net. LA held a 2-0 advantage after the opening twenty minutes.
Vegas’ 2024-25 leading goal scorer Pavel Dorofeyev answered quickly in the middle frame. Dorofeyev launched his shot from inside the blue line to cut the Kings lead in half. LA regained their two-goal edge but Vegas was awarded an extended amount of power play time towards the end of the period. Dorofeyev collected two PP goals to complete the hat trick and tie the contest 3-3.
New VGK star forward Mitch Marner found linemate Jack Eichel with a beautiful pass to snap the tie and hand the Golden Knights their first lead of the season. Eichel and Marner teamed again minutes later to assist on Ivan Barbashev’s first goal. Midway through the final 20 minutes Vegas took a 5-3 lead. However, LA fought back, scored twice and forced overtime. After five minutes of 3-on-3 the game went to shootouts to determine a winner. The Kings found the net twice to win the game.
The Golden Knights drop their first game of the season 6-5 to the Kings in a shootout. Vegas will get back to work tomorrow night in San Jose. Puck drop against the Sharks is scheduled for 7 PM. (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: A surge of power play, thanks to a major penalty and a 5-on-3, got VGK back into the game after a bit of a rocky start. Then, the top line came alive and it appeared VGK were headed towards a fairly straightforward win after four straight goals. Shorty and a breakdown defensively allowed the Kings a chance to get it to OT. An exciting overtime period saw opportunities both ways and a ton of Marner, Eichel, and Thedore, but VGK couldn’t find a goal. Golden Knights dug themselves another hole in shootout and they couldn’t get out of that one. (Analysis by Ken)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs. Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena.
- Focus first on scoring in the slot as opposed to defending the slot
Ken’s Three VGK Stars
*** Mark Stone
** Pavel Dorofeyev
* Jack Eichel
dogshit
Better find an NHL Goalie
DeezNutz
This team desperately needs a goalie. Bring on Carter Hart.
Jake
Concur
Hill will be a good backup. The Cup magic is gone.
Emmanuel
That Smith-WK- Stone line was brutal…..
McNabb only skated 18:19, kinda surprised by that.
Jake
Concur
Jake
The Blue Line is a major weakness, and the goalie.
Not what you like to see for a Cup favorite.
knights fan in minny
Wow one game
TS
Helluva game! What a way to start the season!! Shoulda won, but, hey, we’re SCORING! DORO IS BACK! Let the games begin, boys!!
Pistol
A four pointer…welcome to the next nine years Jack! Barbashev-Eichel-Marner as advertised. Have not watched the game yet but suspect we needed a better night from Hill. Ken tweeted that goal #3 was not good.
Pistol Pete
Pistol Pete that is!
Larry
Come on …. a 5-3 lead against a team on a B2B with less than 9 minutes to go… on a power play with the Fortress rocking and momentum clearly on the side of VGK … how does that lead disappear??
Let me point that out if I might…. #27 Shea Theodore thinks it’s an opportune time to try to stick handle and dangle while facing 3 opposition players and that leads to the short handed opportunity which breathes life back into what had turned into a lifeless team… dump the puck in and retreat… even with Hill in the net it’s probably unlikely the Kings will score from 200 feet away(sorry Adin lol)…the clock is your ally… sure it’s great to tally another goal but at this point of the game it’s time to use your noggin and just get to the finish line.
Hdbiker7851
In vegas’ case the best defense is offense as Hill couldn’t stop a beach ball from 200 ft away. They are in trouble if they can’t find a goalie
Leonard Wise
While the Theodore mistake was bad. I have to say that I have no confidence in Hill. The worst mistake this organization made was to take Hill over Thompson. If they don’t correct it they will not win a championship. Every once in a while a goalie has to make a play. This organization is living in the past Hill isn’t a shell of what he was during the championship year.
Pistol Pete
But how could McCrimmon pick one over the other when LT ended up requesting a trade?
The year we won the Cup Hill was on an expiring contract and LT was to have two more years on his entry level one. McCrimmon offered to extend Hill for two years AAV $4.9m shrewdly setting up the situation where Hill’s and LT’s contracts would expire simultaneously and LT could possibly win out over Hill as the next starter. You may recall they both played the DAL series sharing starts with Hill performing slightly better in fact. Into the 2024-25 season LT requested his trade and McCrimmon did the proper thing in honoring it. To me LT defected. McCrimmon was the one to give him the opportunity to be an NHL goalie and LT walked out on him.
Sure I might prefer LT but he wanted to be traded and there was nothing anybody could do about it. He is more of the stand on head save a game goalie but if you look at their regular season career stats there is not that much of a difference and Hill’s sample is a little bigger too.
Hill: 187 GP/2.64/.908
LT: 147 GP/2.61/.912
Emmanuel
.04 IS a big difference, but the sample is small.
That being said team defense is more important than the G.
Pistol Pete
You have a point. I looked into it and .04 difference in SV% can be/is significant. According to what I saw .905-.920 is acceptable for a starter and above .920 is elite. Gets to splitting hairs imo because goalies in the range of Hill and LT will all have good games with elite numbers and some that are subpar. Even ones above .920 will have bad games.
Agreed…team D more important.
Hdbiker7851
Pete l know it’s your belief that the FO can do no wrong. They had a better goalie in LT on pennies compared to Hill. LT recognized if they paid Hill the $$$$ they did he would never get the chance to be #1. He didn’t defect the FO put him in a no win situation. Hill is another walrus and you know how that worked out. They had a H of F goalie who continued to play for years after they kept the other walrus who stunk up the place like Hill is doing now. It’s pretty discouraging for the offense when they know regardless how many goals they score they don’t have someone in goal that can’t keep out the next one please Pete l know you know better and facts are facts.
Pistol Pete
But Hdbiker7851 after winning the Cup it made zero sense to let Hill walk and gamble on a still developing LT injury prone too.
McCrimmon made the best play by extending Hill for two years as a starter so that his contract would expire the same time as LT’s. This created the option of letting Hill walk if it was determined LT was superior. That could have happened but LT decided to be traded and walk. How else could the FO have done it?
NAM
LT leaving was entirely on the org’s head (even including big disrespect from Cassidy in the Stars series). The better goalie left the org because of it. As a fan I don’t blame him at all, he deserved a better shot. He got shat on by the org and ended up one of the better goalies in the league last year. Hill is a NHL backup at best. To be honest, KM should assign goalie management duties to someone else. He has fucked up our goalie situation since the day he hired Deboer and we are stuck with it till 2030-2031 season.
The hockey God
You are all clueless LT was a big cancer in the locker room, he had to go.
Pistol Pete
Letting Hill walk after winning the Cup I don’t see how could be construed as the right decision. The challenge in pushing the FO messed up with Hill and LT narrative is in proposing a viable alternate course of action to what McCrimmon did which was setting both up with terms that expired the same year offering LT the chance to beat out Hill for the job. Rather, he chose to walk out on his team. If the rumors about his conduct with teammates were true it was best he did.
NAM
LT was such a cancer that he *still* comes back to vegas for softball events etc. I call bullshit on your unsourced rumor.
Richie-Rich
PP is right here. Had things played out differently in the Cup season it very well could have been Thompson rather than Hill benefiting from a Cup victory. He got hurt and Hill played lights out to win the Stanley Cup. This wasn’t the FO mismanaging anything. It was simply a matter of winning a Cup and winning the starting job. Hill took advantage of the opportunity. Then he got paid on top of it. Good for him and unfortunate for Thompson. Did we get the better of the two goaltenders? That’s debatable. I know where I stand on the matter of who is the better goaltender. Tonight we get an opportunity to see Schmid in goal. He can be a factor in whether or not the VGK goes after Carter Hall or not.
Richie-Rich
Game 1 Summary
Hill couldn’t stop a clock with a sledgehammer.
Goalie trash
Hdbiker7851
Thanks RR truer words were never posted.
Richie-Rich
I would have been harsher, but Hill did win us a Stanley Cup.
Richie-Rich
I will say it. Fleury would have won this one. Maybe even Lehner. Hill is trash on breakaways and shootouts.
Pistol Pete
Only one game R-R he’s been good before let’s give him a chance!
Nice to see Jack take about the most the budget could afford. Budget concern is having enough in it to extend Pav. If he has another good season (had an amazing hat trick on opening night) and is impactful in the postseason we will be looking at $7m minimum. McCrimmon will have to make some roster changes to find that money. Oh well let’s win another Cup first and then worry about it!
Hdbiker7851
Give Hill a chance you have to be kidding. He is of zero value to the team and a liability. Him in the net is like giving the oppression the power play Vegas playing. 4 guys to 6. RR said it better than most a realistic observation.
Anthony
It looks like the team’s strength and weakness have flipped for the first time: They seem to have stronger offensive potential and a weaker defense.
Hill is a decent NHL goaltender. But he is clearly not in the top 10 goalies in the league in terms of consistency. And that’s a major problem for a Stanley Cup run.
Emmanuel
Hes NEVER been considered a top 10 G.
Hes a career backup.
As for the defense, as I said all summer, Pietrangelo is the best D in franchise history, he is irreplaceable. Hanifin is a #1 (top 32 D). Theo is iffy defensively, McNabb is very good defensively but hes getting up in age. The rest of the guys are 5/6/7 D.
Pietro & Hanifin were the dam that held back the other team.
Pistol Pete
Maybe Schmid tomorrow in San Jose? Would make R-R happy lol!
Richie-Rich
Look, Hill is a decent NHL goaltender. He’s not top tier. But that doesn’t mean I am not going to call him out when he loses the team a point. He had ample opportunities to be on the positive side of this game ledger. He wasn’t, that’s a fact. Sure, the D was leaky and contributed, but we (or at least I) expect Hill to stop at least 1 of those breakaways. In OT, give him credit with a kick save, but it was too little too late. He needed to stop just 1 of the 2 breakaways before OT. This is also nothing new with him. Breakaways cause the fanbase to moan because they almost always wind up with an automatic goal.
We all know that the defense has been on a slide since the Cup season, and this year it is quite obvious that the D is going to be the weakest link on this team.
The good news is that it appears that the team is interested in Carter Hall, but getting him in December could be too late if the Golden Knights don’t remain close to the Division lead.
I also would like to see more of Schmid. That starts tonight.
How about #16? Fantastic!
Pistol Pete
The general perception of Marner is that he’s not physical. May just be me but I have noticed him being physical here so far the preseason and this game. Not Hertl-like but not soft either. I think what the guy understands is to begin to treat as much of the regular season as possible as a dress rehearsal for the playoffs. Ken mentioned in the last podcast that Cassidy is pushing the team to play playoffs hockey. This means less perimeter shooting and creating chances off the forecheck including the top lines. But yeah Marner has never been known as a physical player but clearly he can up that. This game he actually recorded one hit to go with his three shots. Shooting more adding physicality definitely on his road map. He also mentioned to the TNT guys that he is looking for Eichel to set him up to shoot.
Emmanuel
Ask a legit Maple Leaf fan, he is solid to slightly above avg defensively, the Selke hype is baloney.
Pistol Pete
Depends how much credibility one assigns to the Selke voting process. This is out of a great many forwards total. Looks good to me he gets back into his end quick just like Eichel and uses his stick to create turnovers just like Eichel.
Selke Trophy Voting History
2023: Finished third in the voting as a finalist, behind winner Patrice Bergeron and Nico Hischier.
2024-25: Ranked 17th in the 2024-25 voting.
Previous Seasons: Ranked in the top 10 twice and in the top 16 four times in previous years.
Richie-Rich
I would tell people to shut up about physicality when it comes to #9 and #93. Marner is only 180. He’s not built to play a physical game. The team came out flat in period 1, but they played great in periods 2 and 3. This just cements the notion that you cannot play 40 minutes of hockey and expect to win. I believe the VGK has been chasing the scoreboard in at least their last 10 contests going back to the end of last season. That has to change.
ThG
Plus having a real game under their belt really helped LAK team play overall as they played night before. Let s see how VGK do tonight, if smith and Karl son show up for 60minutes they may have a chance, as well as Stone-3????
TS
Oops. New rules, bubba, all meant to stifle YOU. Ken finally had enough.
Leave us alone, already
FG
The game was a microcosm of what we expected from VGK this year. Offensive firepower, electric connection between Marner and Eichel, and Dorofeyev is unstoppable from his spot. The defense is suspect. I am not sure what to make of Lauzon, two games and two turnovers leading to breakaway goals while hitting everyone is site and drawing the ire of the opposition. I am not sure he can stay in the lineup if his turnovers continue, and likely will never make it healthy through an 82 game season. The Theodore turnover leading to breakaway monster is alive and well! Hill is only as good as the defense in front of him, and he appeared to be a statue in goal and is almost useless against a breakaway. A -3.34 GSAA in his first game says it all. Edmonton lost in OT as well. I saw someone call VGK Edmonton South. Pretty close to true after one game.
Emmanuel
Lauzon is/was a 5/6/7 D in his prime. He will get burned by the top 2 lines on a good team. Thats what you should expect.
NAM
5 goals on 26 shots. 3 goals on 4 shots in the shoot out. Not to mention how many times did he lose the puck in front of him during the game. I don’t think he lost his stick last night so I guess that is good, something to build on.
JohnnyVegas
I’m sick of the people defending Hill. He’s a crap goalie. He’s not even a back up at Henderson. That’s how bad he plays. He can’t stop anybody on a break away. Gives up soft goals. He’s worthless. He’s gonna destroy our opportunity to get the cup this year, get him the hell out of here!!
Emmanuel
If I ranked all 64 G in the NHL Hill would be around 25-35.
His real problem is endurance, hes never played a lot of minutes until last season & the total was mid for a starter.
JB
Ken? No political please!
JB
Just one game, so I’m not going to throw Hill in the dumpster just yet, but, I was not impressed with his effort. After comeback we should have won, but got a point. Need to dominate the minnows tonight!
knights fan in minny
One game and the Whiners are out already Give it a five games then complain
Richie-Rich
He cost the team a point. That’s not whining that’s a fact. He’s been awful when it comes to being the last man on a breakaway. Who is the goalie coach and why hasn’t this problem been addressed? I would go as far as putting Schmid out there for shootouts.
John Dumas
Well, you don’t give kudos to somebody who gives up a lead with a few minutes left in the game and can’t stop anything in a shootout so I dont wanna hear it’s one game.
This is gonna be a problem until we can fix it. He’s a bum
he should be down in Henderson.
He’s not a starting goaltender.
The magic is gone.
He got lucky during the Stanley Cup run. That’s it he’s done!
Richie-Rich
He won’t be gone until he has seriously screwed the team in the standings with a subpar GAA under .900. That won’t happen until January. For better or worse, Hill is the #1 goaltender and only time will tell whether or not he is going to remain the starter.
knights fan in minny
A few bumbles and stumbles Caused a few goals 4th line had a nice night Dorfy A nice night a Pure Hatty He sure does have a nice release to go with that shot in a contract year on a pace for 50 with dollar signs in his eyes Hell of a pass from Mitch to Jack on the goal Barbie was in on that one too very nice See what game two brings The Kings are not a bad team
Emmanuel
Good chance someone Laps the Kings in a 3 team playoff division.
Hdbiker7851
Vegas better find a goalie soooooopn. The one they have is of zero value and that is being kind. The offense can’t keep up with the poor back end even after they pulled ahead, forget about a shoot out with Hill who couldn’t stop five earlier or two in shoot out. After OT they may as well declared LA winner – Vegas had a second walrus on their hands . And for any and all that believe the about is not fact – tuff – realistic yes -live with
trade
great game by Jack and Pavel.
good game by Stone, Marner, Barbashev.
bad game by Hill, Hanifin, Theodore, and Lauzon giveaway
certain Vgk players did not do their Olympic hopes any favors last night.
Front office bringing in Carter Hart is a clear sign that they see it too.
oh well, 1 point is better than nothing,….let’s see if maybe Schmid can win one tonight.
good news is that Edm also blew a lead and lost in a shootout, and they also have goalie issues.
trade
Vgk signed Holtz, and dman Jeremy Davies cleared waivers and was sent to Henderson.
A Fan
As many have already mentioned, Shea ‘Turnover’ Theodore is back and Hill looked like Lehner’s twin again last night. I knew it was over as soon as it went to a SO. Carter Hart will probably be picked up, but he can’t play until December. A lot of positive on the offensive side last night.
Richie-Rich
It could be too late by December.
knights fan in minny
Did the hammer come down nice
NAM
One game in, but not super excited to see Hutton in street clothes while the new replacement is shitting the bed.
knights fan in minny
I would like to see hutty More He doesn’t stand out but he He does the small things well You should get a shot
Top Dog
More goalie bashing by clueless “fans”, these are same numbnuts complaining a few short days ago about who was going to score. This board is full of wagon jumpers.
knights fan in minny
Well said top dog
Top Dog
right on KFIM
NAM
Ahh the anti-fan poster, always common on sports forums. Uses words or phrases like “clueless fans” or “true fan” to distinguish the two sides. Cannot handle people talking about the game in a negative fashion. Must insert name calling to establish entitlement. Please resume your valuable role to this ecosystem.
PJT
Those of you paying attention would note that LT played in the Caps season opener also lost to a “rebuilding” Boston Bruins by a 2 goal margin. One game is definitely not a big deal but we’ve also seen Hill’s game from last 2 seasons and it is not his bad games that worry me, it’s the inconsistency of his performance. It is also not the first time we’ve scored a hat trick and still lost the game. That worries me. Defense is also a problem. Hanafin has taken over Petro as Mr. Turnover and Shea’s a close runner up for that title. Like Butch said, we need to make adjustments. If after 3 seasons of coaching and your starting goalie is still not improving, fire the goalie coach and then look for a backup goalie that will compete for the starting goalie spot. Next fire the asst coach in charge of defense. Whatever scheme he has these guys play is not working. Next, Hanafin is not worth his salary. Trade him for someone like Nate Schmidt or Brent Burns and his $1m salary. Make those adjustments and we might stand a chance in the playoffs.
ThG
“LT was such a cancer that he *still* comes back to vegas for softball events etc. I call bullshit on your unsourced rumor” note which players didn’t show up, and get back to board.
Pistol Pete
Funny how the Hill critiques turn to praise when he plays well. Did they forget his stats support his claim being a bonafide starter? We don’t have the cap space for an elite goalie and last time we paid a big contract for one it did not work out all that well ( MF). Remember the behind the net gaffe in the MTL series that could very well have cost us another trip to the SC finals? Hill did win us a Cup.
Also, Hill was very good in the 2023-24 DAL series a little better than LT.
Pistol Pete
Anyways Hill would have won this game if not for that bad zone entry by Theo on that last PP. Oh well. C’est la vie. I am not shitting on him over it. First game of year mistake for one. It happens.
Knightwatch
Political Nonsense Post
ID1oT please see – https://sinbin.vegas/sinbin-vegas-updated-comment-section-rules-and-guidelines/
Looks like your gonna be very busy Ken but it is MUCH appreciated
StaticBlue
Many people have unrealistic expectations of goalies. Everyone needs to cHill on Hill. There were multiple defensive lapses that led to goals. Listen to what Cassidy said post game. We gave away the puck multiple times. Fix the defense in front of Hill first
TS
Static, good thoughts
The fans here are harsh, quick.to condemn Hill, and it’s only game 2! I say give the big guy a game or two to get his goalie legs going!! There ARE other teammates who contribute (or NOT) to our D, Hill expects some help from our
D, and he should be better protected.
This team will be just fine..Panic and gloom and doom after 2 games is a little PREMATJRE, people! Give our team a frigging chance to gel, for crying out loud!
. It’s only GAME 2!!
Richie-Rich
Come on TS. No one criticizing Hill is preaching doom and gloom. You are taking one game analysis and expanding the criticism to the entire season and team. This team will make the playoffs. Pointing out the fact that Hill is historically bad when it comes to his approach on breakaways is just that – a fact.