Recap: The Golden Knights returned home for an out of conference matchup with the New Jersey Devils. The 1st period was dominated by both goaltenders. Each club had several chances but neither could find the back of the net.
New Jersey snapped the scoreless tie early in the middle frame. Vegas had plenty of shot attempts but failed to even the score. After 40 minutes the Devils held a 1-0 edge.
Vegas was awarded a late power play opportunity which lead to the game-tying goal. With under five minutes Pavel Dorofeyev evened the score with his 14th goal of the season. The games needed an overtime period to decide the two points. The Golden Knights were gifted an OT power play but couldn’t take advantage of it. Eventually, Devils secured the game in shootout.
The Golden Knights record drops to 16-6-10 falling to the Devils 2-1 in SO. Next up, Vegas will travel to Calgary for a matchup with the Flames on Saturday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 PM. (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: VGK’s 5-on-5 game generated some dangerous looks but never found a way to beat a goalie in Jake Allen who was on his game. In the other net, Carter Hart did well to keep the game manageable and allow VGK to do what they’ve been doing all year, rescuing games late with power play goals. Special teams has remained massive for this team and it earned them another point tonight in a game that looked like it could be a regulation loss. (Analysis by Ken)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs. New Jersey Devils at T-Mobile Arena.
- Late power plays
Ken’s Three VGK Stars
*** Mark Stone
** Carter Hart
* Pavel Dorofeyev
https://teitter.com/SinBinVegas/status/2001525041071296877
Pistol Pete
Per usual I’ll take the point given how good the goaltending was in this game. Back on top tied with the Ducks in points but ahead with a higher P% and most important two games in hand.
Marner landed four shots (before the count was adjusted down he was tied with Hertl for the most with five) but darn could not tie up the SO as last shooter. Oh well bag the well-earned point and move on.
This team has showed time and time again they can hold their own with key players out tonight being no exception.
Pistol Pete
Carter Hart after that 32/33 performance is yet to lose in regulation.
3-0-2 (2.26/.917)
Scott
This team hates to lose. It doesn’t matter who is in or who is out. You have to love that attitude. We needed a little more love from any one of the three posts we hit in OT on the Power Play. That was the difference in this game. Great goaltending both ways. Well played, boys.
DeezNutz
Carter Hart looks legit I think we got one here! Schmid is solid as a backup too if I’m Hill I’m looking for property to buy in Buffalo (or Russia) This team still couldn’t finish chances at 5v5 if their lives were on the line. The rest of their game looks solid for the most part.
Leonard Wise
Isn’t that surprising inability to score costs us again. The one problem that management was tasked with was to fix the scoring. They failed! It’s time they get serious about adding scoring not at the deadline but earlier. New Jersey has been one of the worst teams due to injuries. I feel for Hart he deserved better. Remember we won the division last year and we were an offside call away from losing to Minnesota and we were smoked by Edmonton. They will have upcoming games against Edmonton and Colorado and Minnesota. Hopefully they prove me wrong. I’ll be at the Colorado and Minnesota games. Just looks the same every night struggle to beat anyone.
Pistol Pete
Obviously you give Calgary to Schmid and save Hart for the Oilers on the back-to-back.
knights fan in minny
What a fun game to watch Tough to lose that one Jake Allen and Carter Hart were absolutely outstanding Goodbye Hill Mitch was magical with the puck Again Dorfy Was strong on the puck all night long The Hannafin and cloudy de pairing looks pretty good lately How many clanks off the iron did we have last night
TS
Kfim, one too many clanks!! Tough to lose like that!
knights fan in minny
Some nights it happens the boys will be OK
JB
Another point! Great game by Hart!
Pistol Pete
This team has been tough to beat in regulation. Hopefully translates to the postseason.
Reg loss leaders:
COL: 2
VGK: 6
DAL: 7
Four with 9
Pistol Pete
How many posts for Mitch two if not three? Just a little off. Any of them a potential game winner. Excellent forechecker and backchecker.
knights fan in minny
Mitch is absolutely a Treat to watch
hdbiker7851
16-6-10 tells the story – Vegas needs to figure out what they MUST do to win in OT and or SOs or better yet win in regulation as OT and SOs are definitely not their strong suit. They won’t be a Stanley Cup contender playing 50/50 hockey. Yes, the hockey gods where not kind to them last night nor were the posts but close only counts in horseshoes. Their OT performance wasn’t any better or worse without Eichel figure skating around nor their SO. I am certain Cassidy is scratching his head. They will have their hands full this weekend, but it seems they do better on the road than at home so there is hope. Onward and upward – go Knights go.
Pistol Pete
Ask any NHL player and they are likely to say OT/SO’a are a toss-up not a real OT like the playoffs. Take the Avs they have seven OTL’s. If one buys the notion OT’s are basically a toss-up then it’s not a stretch to say you really could have won some or even most of your OTL’s. That is true when you look at all the posts, crossbars, and stand on his head saves that are part of most of these OT’s the VGK has played. I have noticed the less successful teams put on a decent show in 3 on 3 hockey with their best players out there. These guys are top level NHL caliber players and know what to do with open ice and the goalies are usually at their best. Not the same as 5 on 5 OT.
hdbiker7851
PP – winning or losing is a toss-up and in reality, OT and SOs are no different. The same applies to playoff OTs. It was interesting to read your observation, “I have noticed the less successful teams put on a decent show in 3 on 3 hockey with their best players out there”. One would think with an extra point on the line Vegas could match that which for some reason or another does not seem to be the case – or worse yet is the case which begs the question maybe they are not as good as they believe they are. I don’t think that is the case, however, you would think a solution looms somewhere. It would be nice to see them find it sooner rather than later – they have had lots of practice to this point. Maybe soon – or better yet just win in regulation.
Pistol Pete
Point acknowledged hdbiker however I know you saw all those posts and crossbars, how many of those OT’s could and should have gone the other way changing nothing else!
Larry
Most of the overtimes have been poorly played as the team just does not get the urgency of maintaining puck possession, cycling and recycling to put fresh legs on the ice and create odd man rushes and open looks, and yes the iron has been cruel, which simply means shoot more accurately!
Richie-Rich
I think that puck management and protecting the puck has been the #1 issue in OT. How many times have we seen our best players lose the puck under pressure? Quite often. There really isn’t an excuse at this level with that much open ice available. If you have to dump the brick back to the goaltender then do it and restart the cycle.
Pistol Pete
With all these concerns about the amount of VGK’s OT games we can compare our OT volume
to the rest of the P% top five.
COL: .833 (9 OT: W2/L7)
DAL: .721 (9 OT: W4/L5)
CAR:.697 (10 OT: W8/L2)
MIN: .662 (11 OT: W6/L5)
VGK: .656 (14 OT: W4/L10)
Yes VGK has the highest OT volume but some/many of them were the result of a come from behind position highlighting the team’s strength and resiliency. Note as well the OT losing record of COL in particular. Bottom line is OTL points are points well earned and help elevate the team in the standings and most OTL’s could go the other way and get the extra point.
Pistol Pete
Don’t agree Larry. Not saying some OT play could not have better but if we could go back and look at all the OTL’s I would say at least half had posts and/or otherwise high danger chances. You make it sound like we overall sucked across the OTL’s. Not true! Did the Avs suck too going 2-7 in theirs?
Larry
Pete I have zero clue about the Avs in overtime, but yes I would classify our overall overtime play in the category as ‘sucked’ lol, though the one last night did not fit into the square peg into a round hole category.
Emmanuel
Good points made.
Interestingly I just saw a chart saying that VGK has the 2nd best chance to win the Cup after the Avs. I dont see it but they take path/matchups into account so the weak division helps……
Walt
Saad’s shooting is just sad. even when the guy gets plenty of chances to score, he just flips the puck softly and along the ice right into the goalie’s pads.
you gotta go upstairs to score, just like Doro and Bratt did.
time to
Richie-Rich
I missed the game last night. I am in Florida and puck drop was at 10pm EST. I slept through this one. Looks like it was just a wash, rinse and repeat episode so I didn’t miss much. Chalk up another loser point and we are back on top of the division with 2 games in hand. Nice.
How long must we endure the failed Saad, Sissons, Lauzon experiment. We have some quality chomping at the bit to get a chance at T-Mobile. It’s time to see who might be ready to make a difference!
JB
Got to love those “loser” points, as you call them. I call playoff points!
Emmanuel
Great food in FLA!
Larry
RR, you didn’t miss much at all, it’s better to be on vacation than to watch our beloved Golden Knights play hockey right now. I simply cannot drink the kool aid or accept the pablum of what I see hear and read, before any negatives a solid positive goes out to Carter Hart who to this point has been an absolute revelation in goal!!
Our 5×5 remains a mystery, our transition game remains a mystery and/or is MIA, it’s been quite apparent for some time changes need to be made.
Yes our shootouts border on horrific, why did Pavel come down the left flank when he is way more dangerous on the right? Of more concern come playoff time is the ability to generate anything 5×5 when the games and season is on the line.
I agree that someone (anyone) should be given a chance from HSK at this point, perhaps Lacyzinski or heaven help me Rondjberg , virtually nothing could be worse than what we see now from our bottom 6!!
Richie-Rich
I can remember a time when the team was good 5v5 and had a shit power play. Seems that has flipped!
VGK fan
I agree Larry that something needs to be done but the question is what?, the question is how?, there are no real current assets to trade, I guess maybe karlsson but who wants to see him leave, does Hill have any return value other than a salary dump? i cant imagine they would bring up anyone from hsk for this road trip but maybe when they return?
DAK
Ken, put your Tin Foil GM hat on and let us know your thoughts on moving forward at this point of the season. I personally think between Saad and Smith, the Saad experiment is over. Smith sticks due to his defensive IQ and chemistry with Karlsson , when he gets back. But you spend more time breaking this team down on a game to game basis so you tell me, average fan, overall what is needed.
Ken Boehlke
I’ve never really understood Saad. He was cut from a team that was worse than VGK yet this team then not only signs him and plays him in the top-six but then re-signs him. He just doesn’t have it anymore. He lost a step and it’s the reason he’s struggling to score in the situations he used to.
To me, the main issue is the repetitive nature of their best players. They are mostly pass first. The guys willing to shoot are not elite players. Defensively, they’ve had to make Theodore and Hanifin play extremely difficult minutes which is muting their offense as well.
The simple answer… Marner, Eichel, and Stone (and I guess Hertl) need to become 30+ goal scorers. I’m not sure that’s realistic.
Pistol Pete
Saad last season with Hertl and Dorofeyev played close to his career stats providing the basis for McCrimmon re-signing him. Both Cassidy and McCrimmon mentioned multiple times how good that line was. This year he does seem to have slipped. Decent motor but has lost his scoring touch at least for the time being maybe forever.
Pistol Pete
As for the goal scoring we have five 25-30+ players though Dorofeyev’s career sample is small plus him and Hertl are somewhat more weighted to the PP.
Eichel
Marner
Stone
Hertl
Dorofeyev
Admittedly an issue perhaps with 5 on 5 at least thus far this season but collectively this should be sufficient goal scoring power for Cup-contending purposes.