The Golden Knights #1A line of Bellemare, Carrier, and Reaves started the season as forwards ranked 10th, 11th, and 12th on the Vegas Golden Knights. Last night, they saved the game with two third-period goals that sparked Vegas to a 5-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on the road.
They’ve shown that maybe, just maybe, the’re the best fourth line in the entire NHL. They’re the second most productive line on the VGK, with 9 goals and 13 overall points in 16 games.
Last night, they seized control of the game that Vegas had led 3-0 late into the second period after two first-period power-play goals by Marchessault and Theodore and a second-period goal by Nick Holden. It was the first time this season that Vegas has scored more than one power-play goal in a game.
Speaking of firsts, when Nick Holden scored to extend the lead to 3-0, it was his first goal of the season.
But not so fast.
Matt Duchene scored a goal shortly after Holden and the second period ended with Vegas leading 3-1.
Ottawa took advantage of Vegas not showing up for the first 10 minutes of the third. Vegas might have overlooked Ottawa with a 3-1 lead with just 20 minutes left, thus letting Ottawa back into the game with goals by Ryan Dzingel at the 6:57 mark, followed by Thomas Chabot just 2:04 after Dzingel’s goal.
With the score now 3-3 and just under 11 minutes left in the game, the # 1A line came to the rescue. Just 1:15 seconds after Ottawa had tied the game, William Carrier took the puck from the half-wall and skated in on goaltender Craig Anderson. The lone defenseman, Mark Borowiecki, was left flat-footed as Carrier did an outside-inside move from his forehand to his backhand, then backhanded the puck by Anderson. That was quickly followed up with a goal from Bellemare just 2:44 later, giving the Knights the two-goal lead that they didn’t surrender.
Just 11 days ago at T-Mobile, the VGK played what might have been their best game of the season against Ottawa. Last night, other than the 10-minute lapse in the third period, the Knights played another complete game against a team that, like Vegas, has been struggling to find its identity. Ottawa’s problems may be more about off-ice drama, while the Knights are dealing with the on-ice problems of lack of scoring, injuries, scoring contributions from their defensemen, Schmidt’s suspension, and a power play that struggled prior to tonight’s 2-for-2 performance.
A lot of what this team was dealing with was put on the back burner at least for this game. The power play scored twice. Holden and Theodore’s goals tied the number of goals all the defensemen had scored in the previous 15 games (a goal each from Hunt and Theodore). And for the very first time this season, they scored five goals, the most in 16 games.
Last but certainly not least, in the last game against Ottawa, Mark Borowiecki delivered a hit to Cody Eakin’s head, causing him to miss the remainder of that game. Borowiecki was issued a major penalty and a three-game suspension for the hit. Ryan Reaves took no action that night in a game that was close and went into overtime.
Prior to this game, my good friend and long-time hockey fan Eddie Rivkin messaged me and asked if I thought Reaves would seek out Borowiecki. My exact response was, “If they’re up 5-2, he will.” In other words, if they have a three-goal lead, Reaves would for sure seek him out. As George McPhee said when he re-signed Reaves to a new contract, “You need guys like him to keep the flies off the honey.”
When Holden scored and Vegas went up 3-0, Reaves wasted no time: Just seven seconds after Holden scored, Reaves dropped the gloves and started throwing punches on a willing Borowiecki, who took the worst of the altercation.
Reaves has been a valuable addition to the VGK lineup, especially this season, with his four goals and relentless forechecking. Last night, he brought another asset to the team. He let it be known that the VGK will have a response if you take liberties with their players.
To recap a strong 50-minute performance: 2 power play goals, 2 goals by defensemen, 5 goals scored, 42 shots on goal, no PPG by Ottawa in their 4 minutes of power-play time, Ryan Reaves playing “Officer Revo” 7 seconds after Vegas took a 3-goal lead, and Vegas storming back with two third-period goals after surrendering a 3-goal lead with 3 unanswered goals by Ottawa.
My 3 Stars of the Game: Bellemare (1 goal, 1 assist), Marchessault (PPG, 5 shots, and another complete 200-foot game), Carrier (1 goal that regained the 4-3 lead)
The VGK’s next game is tomorrow afternoon at Montreal at 4 p.m.
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