Recap: The Golden Knights welcomed the streaking Toronto Maple Leafs for a Thursday night out of conference matchup. Midway through the opening period the Maple Leafs began to heat up. In a six-minute span, the visitors scored four straight goals and carried a 4-0 advantage into the opening intermission.
William Karlsson gave Vegas some life scoring immediately into the middle frame. Later in the period the Maple Leafs added two goals to stretch their lead to 6-1 before the break.
Vegas quickly changed the tone of the game with back-to-back goals in the first two minutes of the period. Auston Matthews sealed the game for Toronto with his 52nd goal of 2023-24.
The Golden Knights record drops to 32-19-6 losing to the Maple Leafs 7-3. Vegas will try and rebound on Saturday in Ottawa as they begin a five game Eastern Conference road trip. Puck drop against the Senators is scheduled for 4 PM. (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: On a night when the AXS ticketing app went down causing thousands of fans to get into the building late, the Golden Knights also arrived quite late. They got completely obliterated in the 1st period and it didn’t get much better in the 2nd. An absolute fanny whacking by the Maple Leafs. (Analysis by Ken)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs. Toronto Maple Leafs at T-Mobile Arena.
- VGK’s still very comfortable playoff position
Ken’s Three VGK Stars
*** Shea Theodore
** Jonathan Marchessault
* William Karlsson
When the Golden Knights officially lose this game, it will be just the 3rd time ever they've lost 4 consective home games in regulation.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) February 23, 2024
Misfits picking on Martin Jones. Never gets old.
(Could have used it sooner tonight though)
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) February 23, 2024
VGK cannot do anything right in the defensive zone. It's now 4-0 TOR.
This is about as bad a disaster as we've ever seen from VGK.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) February 23, 2024
Rashaad
16 days until the trade deadline
Emmanuel
My favorite holiday!
Richie-Rich
Game 57 Analysis, TOR 7 VGK 3
Defense has been absent now for quite some time. Goaltending is now also an issue. Four straight losses at home, time to go on a long road trip. Twenty Five games left in the season.
Next up is the first MUST WIN game on my list. Ottawa. The Senators are in last place in the Atlantic Division. To say that this is a MUST WIN is an understatement. The VGK cannot afford to lose games like this.
Ottawa 24-27-3 51pts, -8
Stutzle, Giroux and Tkachuk are the standouts on this struggling team
The VGK should have no problem putting up two points on this team. In fact they must.
26 2/22 H-TOR* (LOSS 7-3)
25 2/24 A-OTT (MW)
24 2/27 A-TOR*
23 2/29 A-BOS*
22 3/02 A-BUF (MW)
21 3/04 A-CBJ (MW)
20 3/07 H-VAN*
19 3/09 H-DET**
18 3/12 A-SEA (MW)
17 3/14 A-CGY (MW)
16 3/17 H-NJD (MW)
15 3/19 H-TBL**
14 3/21 H-SEA (MW)
13 3/23 H-CBJ (MW)
12 3/25 A-STL**
11 3/26 A-NSH**
10 3/28 A-WPG*
09 3/30 A-MIN***
08 4/02 H-VAN*
07 4/05 A-ARI (MW)
06 4/08 A-VAN*
05 4/10 A-EDM*
04 4/12 H-MIN***
03 4/14 H-COL*
Hdbiker7851
What happened to the other Darren – vice is in his spot at the presence. Lawless has more BS than anyone watching can stand. Pretty sad performance and that is being kind. The window is closing and the future doesn’t look to bright. The road trip could be the nail in the coffin, let’s all pray that’s not the case.
Hockey nuts
Why does T-Mobile put up with this AXS app nonsense? The knights should be embarrassed to be associated with this POS app.
TS
Hdbiker, I think Darren was getting sick a game ago, losing his voice…could be the reason…
ThG
been out sick for awhile HD, he was pulling double duty last week as back up goalie during practice sessions; came down with the flu.
DeezNutz
What did I tell you all? This team wasn’t outscoring the Leafs even with Eichel in the lineup. VGK’s entire identity is defense so when the defense plays bad they are guaranteed lose 9 out of 10 times. When Leafs defense plays like harbage they go out and score 8 goals like its nothing. Yes we have a cup and they don’t but that doesn’t change the fact that the personnel on this team aren’t as offensively talented as most the other playoff caliber NHL teams. They basically have 4 shutdown lines with players who can’t handle or make a passs, can’t shoot with accuracy, can’t score on breakaways, can’t score with a man advantage and can’t hit wide open nets. Eichel has nobody to pass to except Marchessault who is good but would be pinned to the 3rd line of most of the other teams. GM needs to either punt the season or trade for some good players because this is not a good team. Stephenson, Martinez, Hague and Cotter all need to go and that’s just for starters.
SMH
“Yes we have a cup and they don’t” – that is the only intelligible thing that I got from your post. Everything else you wrote sounded like blah, blah, blah, meow, meow, meow, whine, whine, whine… but so glad that you get to hate the Knights again!
knights fan in minny
shut your lips nauseating num nutz you piece of shit cry baby
TS
DEEZ, you JINXED the team, dude!!
Walt
let the trades begin.
A sad situation tonight, with the Leaf fans basically taking over the building.
Ottawa beat Dallas tonight 4-1. think they are going to roll over for the Froese and Rempal show? not likely
Tim
Another clunker I’ve gotten used to it this year. Maybe we beat Ottawa and then Toronto and Boston that’ll be tough. The price you pay for being good for 6 years you draft closer to the end of the round and we just don’t have any real prospect coming ups we have to buy our way out of this mess . Whitecloud and Hague are our only 2 home grown players who are decent sooner or later that will catch up with you. Eichel fairly young having surgery again and Stone as much as we love him father time is not being kind. If there out until the playoffs then the boys have some cash to play with. If there not back for the playoffs then it’s a mute point.
TS
Tim, what surgery is Eichel facing? I hadn’t heard…horrible news…
JB
TS, Jack had surgery weeks ago on knee. Expected back soon. This five game road trip could be the tipping point one way or another. We need minimum of 6 points! I now believe the Knights need to make a move or two. But, are there any quality players left that could help us? We’ll see.
TS
Jb, thnx. I thought he was needing ANOTHER surgery..
My mistake..
ThG
as usual ignore all the injuries, you fall on your head exiting your lazy boy; yet again ?
Canada
Not only did the leafs put the Knights in their place but the leaf fans did the same to us in the stands .Embarrassing , fans from 2000 miles away are louder than the home team , didn’t think we would see that in the Fortress it reminded me of Phoenix . There are two things going on, the obvious with injuries but the less obvious with the majority of players having to decide if they want more . Watching the players with blue sweaters who are hungry with second and third efforts and no quit exposed us . For some of our players second and third efforts are a thing of the past. Another run for the Cup requires a new level of commitment a hunger that is not easily regained . Until this is decided by all players, we as fans including the Team and Owner are but spectators of mediocrity as opposed to greatness.
Tim
There thinking of bringing back a original Misfit and everyone thinks it’s Reilly Smith well I’m going to throw another Misfit in the mix. I heard that for the right price Alex Tuck could be available. He’s about 5 years younger the Smith and would be my choice. Give Buffalo what ever prospects the want and we do have those 2 first round picks so we could make it happen. That’s my long shot prediction for today. Ley’s face stall our prospects are bottom 6 players at best so we don’t have anything to lose. Would he want to come back or is he pissed we traded him only he knows that. Something drastically has to change or were not going very far and hard to believe we could actually miss the playoffs. Predators and Blues can out point us in the central plus Colorado, Winnipeg, and Dallas make 5 central teams and Vancouver, Edmonton, and Kings make 8 so we’d be on the outside and that’s not far fetched when you think about it.
ThG
his name is Alex Tuch, stop making a fool of yourself; at least get the players names right.
have another gin and tonic, geezer, sit back in your lazy boy; the dodgers and padres replay from spring training is on.
knights fan in minny
i said that a couple of years ago i could s alex coming back lets hope big body fast and soft hands lets do it
TS
I was disappointed to see Tuch go…maybe we’re all dreaming, but he would be welcomed back anytime! And do we EVER need a Big Man out there checking opponents…
ThG
the coach has very little to work with, the AHLers show make of deep organizational depth
pro is that these AHLers are getting some prime time exposure; hope it helps as they are facing streaking teams now.
at least two years ago when they misses RL , you can say one good thing about him, kept VGK in the games down to the last week of the season.
Will Cassidy survive the coming debacle?
Team needs something, they are reeling bad. Game turned quickly after first five minutes which Leafs survived, although the scoring qualities weren’t that great for VGK they managed to put a little pressure on . The bingo bango, puck bounces in off Marty and whole game changes. Marty was doing a good job of defending that right goal post too. In long run on this game, the Leafs have too much fire power. I don’t see One trade helping VGK much. They need six players because lines three and four are worthless right now. The announcers were hyping up no 43 pre game, a fifth round draft pick. Hasn’t done anything. Can’t pick up lose pucks, doesn’t hit anybody, has no shot. If he’s going to be with organization he needs to pick things up. Marty is having a horrible year too. I don’t see him coming back next year unless he starts eating his wheaties. Too many misplays and falling down this season.
need to study the tape, now
NHhell
this is irony bigtime for all the Canadian fans who constantly badmouth the Arizona situation. They may be headed to Houston or Salt Lake City, but this is a new developing situation north of the border.
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Winnipeg Jets chairman Mark Chipman acknowledged that the franchise may not be sustainable, based on current attendance and sale numbers, in an interview with The Athletic’s Chris Johnston. Winnipeg is averaging the lowest attendance of any team in the league, save for the Arizona Coyotes who are operating in an arena that only seats 5,000 fans. Chipman shared that he has been directly calling season ticket holders, trying to identify ways that the Jets can improve for fans, but NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is still slated to visit Winnipeg on Tuesday to assess the team’s situation.
Winnipeg had an NHL team from 1979 to 1996, but lost their team to the Phoenix Coyotes after the 1995-96 season. They received a second chance in 2011, when the Atlanta Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg.
larry
Game was summed up in the first 2 minutes as to the current state of VGK….puck bounces high in the air and lands behind jones…when we are our usual stellar selves that puck bounces into the goal for an early lead…instead it flips out much like most of my golf shots that always seems to bounce the wrong way!!
larry
You guys are living in a serious dream world if you think VGK is going to miss the playoffs…its just not going to happen… and yes I did watch the game and saw how completely we were outplayed…its a really rough stretch and the fact we lost ground while playing at home is concerning…. but even more concerning is our total lack of talent at the AHL level for our future…one can only hope that the last 2 drafts will bring us the talent to sustain us moving forward…. regardless please come in off the ledge and if need be take a chill pill.. thanks!
Henderson One
Current book on VGK is if you hit them they fold like a cheap suit.
Earl the Replanted Transplant
Is it my imagination or have the VGK looked like they are on a perpetual PK while 5 on 5. Horrible puck movement and management, lack of intensity, missing checks, turnovers, weak offense, and lackluster goaltending.
TS
Earl, yup…the team can’t win games playing Defense for 60 frigging minutes!! Sure seems that way, doesn’t it?