A season that had so much promise came to an unexpected end last night in Montreal. It ended exactly like it did in Round 3 last year to Dallas, with another 3-2 overtime loss. Last year it came in Game 5. This year the Canadiens needed 6 games to send the VGK back to Las Vegas once again empty-handed. The VGK seemed to have the necessary parts to win, or the worst-case scenario at least a return trip back to the Stanley Cup Final, especially on paper. Namely, goaltending that the other 30 NHL teams would kill to have, 2 solid top lines, 2 defensemen named Pietrangelo and Martinez that would be the first pair of defensemen on any other NHL team.
What could possibly go wrong?
Where do I start?
I have so many choices. There were multiple flashing red lights this postseason. Usually, a flashing red light in hockey is a good sight; it signals a goal scored. That didn’t happen enough in Round 3 against a team that should not have been able to match up with the VGK, at least on paper. But this game is played on ice with emotion and determination. Vegas left their emotion and determination in Round 2. Montreal didn’t. The VGK believed what all the hockey pundits, including myself, were saying and writing about: Montreal didn’t have a chance against this juggernaut that disposed of Minnesota and beat the #1 team in the league in 4 straight games after losing the first 2 games in Colorado.
Here’s problem number one. The power play. The Knights were 0-2 last night and 0-15 in the series. Of Montreal’s four wins, 2 were in overtime. How significant would a power-play goal have been in either of those 2 games? I could live with zero power play goals if Carey Price was standing on his head denying high-danger scoring chances. But that wasn’t the case. So many of their power play opportunities were pathetic and I’m being kind. There were power plays that didn’t even register a shot on goal, others where they were denied entry into the offensive zone and more where they were called for icing the puck. If Steve Spott is still running the power play next season, I give up. They didn’t make the necessary adjustments on the fly in Round 3 to change something up on the power play. If they stay the course with Spott, then there’s a coaching philosophy I just don’t understand.
Here’s problem number two and it was the same problem in the playoffs last year in the Edmonton bubble: scoring goals. Last year in Round 3, Vegas scored just 8 goals in 5 games. This year, they scored just 13 goals in 6 games, 8 of them scored by defensemen. With the money being spent on Pacioretty and Stone, just for starters, you should expect more than just one goal and that goal happened in a 3rd period when they were already behind 3-0. In Rounds 1 and 2, the top 6 forwards — Marchessault, Stone, Stephenson, Karlsson, Tuch, and Smith — combined for 21 goals. In Round 3, they had one, last night’s goal by Reilly Smith. In Round 3, Mark Stone registered zero points and just 7 shots on goal in 6 games, not one of them anything to write about.
Here’s problem number three: timely scoring. The VGK played 8 one-goal games in the playoffs, of which they won 3 and lost 5. Three of the 4 games they lost to Montreal were 1-goal games.
Here’s problem #4 They don’t have a real number-one center and the center position is critical, especially on defensive-zone faceoffs. Montreal has Phillip Danault, who seemed to win every defensive zone faceoff he took. No matter what anyone else you listen to or follow for VGK content says, faceoffs are important.
Here’s problem number five: coaching. Pete DeBoer claims he knows how to push the right buttons come playoff time. And player-wise, he does. But he failed to make adjustments to counter what Montreal was doing. He just kept doing what got him through the 56-game schedule and Rounds 1 and 2. He never adjusted to counter Montreal.
I know how you feel. I know how committed you are to this team. It’s not easy to win the Stanley Cup. Everything has to fall into place at the right time to win 16 games before you lose 16. This team still has a window to win the ultimate prize for at least 2 more years. But no matter how good a team looks on paper, a game played on a slippery surface needs a little luck, combined with some timely goals and some key saves, along with coaches who can adjust, to reach the finish line.
If you don’t already know this, as a VGK fan, you’re light years ahead of franchises that have not even come close to the success this team has had. But in the end, only one team can say they had a successful season. Foley said Cup in 6 years. This is only their 4th season, with 3 conference finals/semi finals and 1 trip to the Stanley Cup Final. That’s not a bad opening act.
There is no need for 3 Stars of the Game, but it should be noted that Reilly Smith played well. Alec Martinez gave away one and scored one. William Karlsson also played well.
I will leave you with this. I want to thank all of you who have taken the time to read my blog during the 56-game season and the 19 playoff games. A special thank you to those who have taken the time to leave comments and opinions here on Las Vegas Advisor and on my Facebook pages. I’ve made a number of great friendships over the past 4 seasons with my blog.
See you in October. Have a great summer. And please stay safe.
Next game is in October. It will be here before you know it.
If you want to hear and see more VGK content please check out the podcast I do with Eddie Rivkin on YouTube, Hockey Knights in Vegas. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY-Oc2onzjgkZcq8lm7zwmA
Your comments and opinions are welcome here at Las Vegas Advisor or you may contact me directly at [email protected] or on my Facebook page or the Facebook page of Vegas Hockey Guy or on Twitter @TheRealJoePane
One other note: If you’re reading this blog from Facebook or Twitter and would like to access it earlier in the morning before I share it on social media, it’s usually published by 8 a.m. the morning after a game on LasVegasAdvisor.com. What better way is there to enjoy your morning coffee than reading my take on last night’s VGK game.
Smith goal
Martinez tying goal in third
Goal that ended the season
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Take care Joe, I may not always agree with what you have to say, but you sure do a great job writing about it!!!
Mike
Thank you for taking the time to read my opinions and thoughts. I don’t expect you to agree with them all but how about 99%? 🙂
Joe P
haha…you wish!
Well written Joe. However, you said you’ll see us in October. I thought you were going to move back East and hook up with GG at MSG.
Michael if you were to look back as to when I said this, you would see it was on April 1st 🙂
Joe P.
Pamela Ann sent this comment in
Agree on all points, especially power plays. In two years we went from a very respectable pp team to one of the worst. New pp coach needed ASAP. As to the coaching, I’ll just say I was surprised at some of his line changes.
Thank you very much for your articles . They always say it as it was!! Have a great summer. See you again in October!🖤🧡🍁🇨🇦#goKnightsgo #
Judy thank you, it was a good run unfortunately we once again came up short. I wonder if the icing call that wasn’t an icing call as it hit Lehner’s pad would have changed the outcome of the game, as then the faceoff is at center ice and the shot off of Price’s shoulder never happens which caused the quick transition of the puck going back towards Lehner. Even though the ice is 200 x 85 feet it still is a game of inches. Thank you for your loyal support of my blog it very much appreciated.
Joe P.
I thought you were moving back east but I see by comments it was an April Fools joke. Well, you got a few of us on that one. I really thought we would win last night and then win the 7th. It does say a lot for our team that we have made the playoffs every year since we started. That is an amazing stat!! I do expect we will make Foley’s goal! As a long time Cubs fan, I got use to saying, Wait Till Next Year…and next year finally made it in my life time…for our Knights, I believe we will make the goals to make Foley’s goal. Have a good summer!
Darcy sorry if I fooled you with my April Fools joke but don’t fell bad I go a few of you on this one. I also believe this team has enough talent to win a cup inside of Foley’s goal. But like I said a lot has to go just right for that to happen. Have a great summer my friend and thank you for your support of my blog, It’s much appreciated.
Joe P.
Valerie had this to say
It was a fabulous season and VGK did good!🎉🎉They just couldn’t close out the game.Next season, Joe!🎉🎉
Hagle Patricia sent this opinion in
Very interesting !!!
Hagle Patricia the article or the season?
Joe P.
Bryan Sandrock sent this suggestion in
Hey Joe, I wished that I had thought of this so I can’t take the credit because it came from my brother… it would’ve been the talk of the league if the coach had simply put all defenseman in for the power-play since they were the only ones that seem to want to score… They couldn’t have done any worse than the high paid forwards did… And at least the coach could’ve said he was trying something, anything because repeating the same bullshit got us exactly nothing
Bryan Sandrock your brother thinks outside of the box. Like I said zero adjustments.
Joe P.
Bryan Sandrock replied
Joe Pane Oh yes he does… I like to think I do too but I didn’t think of that one.
Now, can we also talk about the basic concept of making sure that somebody’s in front of the net in scoring position more times than not… how many times to pass has go through the crease with not a soul to be found. If it takes three forwards to dig a pack out of the boards clearly we have no opportunity because the two defensemen are hanging back at the blue line.
Also, can somebody please pet teach Alex Tuck how to pass, and the concept of a touch pass?
And what I thought at the time was my bang up idea… Since we really do play the penalty kill better than most I kept advocating that we left a forward at their defensive blue line So that we force them to either play us 4 on 4 in our defense zone or they would play us 5 on 4 and we would be in a great position to always have a break away. Are you thinking the coaches should have creative thoughts like that? If so, please pass the ideas along and let the VGK know that I’m willing to accept an assistant coaching job to help out 😉
There’s plenty more ideas like sitting in this brain 🤣
Actually Byran if we followed your new PK plan we would be playing a 5 on 3 as with one player in the penalty box we are already down to 4 players. Teams would salivate if we did that. Remember even on a breakaway the goalie is a favorite to not to be scored on. Where a 5 on 3 is much more potent.
Joe P.
Kevin Logan added this comment
Great write up, see you in October, GKG.
Lynda Israel wrote
Thanks for all your “right on” reviews. Oh and yes face offs are very important. Enjoy your summer. Stay well. 🤠❤️🏒
Terrie R Davis had this to say
Sad way to end a great season. Grateful for the friendship made. If we don’t see you before then we will see you in October 😊. GO KNIGHTS !!
Anthony Ward sent this comment in
Thanks Joe, you truly have a gift for talking (in this case writing) people off the ledge
Anthony Ward being a NY Ranger fan my entire life I have been on the edge more than I can remember. So I have lots of experience that I can share with you. I was watching the game yesterday with Kevin McCarthy and Cheryl Jennings and they were up and down like a Jack in the box. Cheryl asked me in the 3rd period how do you remain calm. My response was lots of what you are experiencing I have plenty of practice with. 🙂
Joe P.
Joe, I still haven’t regained my composure…. My legs did get quite the workout last night! Thanks for leaving out the part about all my shrieking at the TV!! Having been a competitive athlete for 30 years I understand the disappointment of loss… after they recover I hope our boys will hold their heads up high. I ❤️ This Team!!
Pamela Ann had this feedback
Agree on all points, especially power plays. In two years we went from a very respectable pp team to one of the worst. New pp coach needed ASAP. As to the coaching, I’ll just say I was surprised at some of his line changes.
Lynn Rudolph-Gilliam wrote
You are so on the mark with your observations, especially the points about making changes when what you are doing isn’t working. I can only hope they do something about adjusting the powerplay. I also noticed the lack of change-up by DeBoer during the Montreal series. It was such a difference from the Avs series, where they pin-pointed the changes that had to be made and adjusted to neutralize the Avs strengths. It didn’t happen in this series at all. All water under the bridge now. Thank you for writing these posts. I always look forward to reading them. See you in October!
Nick Steffen wrote
Thank you for your always insightful comments. I look forward to reading them next season. Enjoy the offseason.
Toby-Murphy Pilkington sent this opinion in
Agree with your assessment…..now the other fun begins, cap issues, free agents, trades…etc etc……sure to be an interesting summer….appreciate your column👏👏
Toby
In my opinion the most important piece of this off season is to somehow get Martinez resigned as he is a UFA. The VGK who always had a hole in the defense look solid with their current blueline players. It wont be easy as they are right up against the cap with this current roster. Someone will have to be moved and one of the rookies will have to fill that hole. Krebs comes to mind as Cody Glass seems to be a player that never reached his expected potential. Especially when you look over at Montreal and see how well Suzuki played.
Joe P.
Toby-Murphy Pilkington replied to my comment
Joe Pane I would expect Holden to be gone and would be surprised, not shocked if Shea was moved for a lower salaried player and picks……Reeves, Nosek, Smith, Janmark are all potential casualties. They must find space to sign Martinez (excellent player)…..who knows with Glass. I’d expect that a full course press on his development will occur and may or may not make the trade deadline. Need speed and gritty players for playoff type hockey. The elephant in the room is Fleury…..who knows what’ll happen there……as I said….fun ahead🤷🤷
Mary Becker sent this in
I have no words
Mary
There a lot of VGK fans who also have no words today and will not for a while. There was just so much hope and potential here with this team this year.
Joe P
Hi Joe, it has been a pleasure reading your article after the game. I hope if there are major changes made to the VGK that you will be able to let us know your take on the changes.