The VGK are scoring goals in bunches for Malcolm Subban, who has been filling in for the injured or resting Marc-André Fleury. You decide which one it is. In my last post, I told you my own theory on this lower-body injury that has kept Fleury out of the lineup the last three games.
Last night, Vegas put 5 goals behind 2 different Winnipeg goaltenders in a 5-0 shutout win. It was the first-ever shutout in Malcolm Subban’s NHL career and the first time in his he has started and won three consecutive games.
The 18,430 fans who were in attendance at T-Mobile are entitled to a free dozen Krispy Kreme donuts compliments of Mr. Subban.
Last night was also the second game in a row where the VGK chased the starting goaltender into an early shower and in which they prevented their opponents from clinching a playoff spot. Winnipeg needed just one point to qualify. Winnipeg will qualify in the very near future and the point that they needed last night will become a reality—just like San Jose when they lost to Vegas on home ice on Monday night, then qualified while sitting at home when Colorado beat the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.
With last night’s victory, the VGK increased their lead over Arizona for the third and final playoff spot in the Pacific Division by 11 points and made some San Jose players’ and fans’ palms somewhat sweaty as they dropped last night’s game to the L.A. Kings that they led 2-1 going into the third period. San Jose then surrendered three goals to lose 4-2. Only 5 points separate the Knights from the Sharks and possible home-ice advantage in the opening round. We all know what the crowd at T-Mobile is like and how it creates energy that the entire team draws from. This is all happening without the services of Marc-André Fleury. Vegas will be playing San Jose on March 30 for the final time this season. That one could be a doozy, especially if the VGK continue to find so many different ways to win.
Vegas has won 10 of its last 11 games, the exact same number of games they’ve played since acquiring Mark Stone at the trading deadline.
A number of good things have happened since the Stone Age era commenced. They’ve also scored five power-play goals in the 11 games. In their previous 12 games, they scored only two. Mark Stone had a six-game scoring streak that was broken last night. Since Stone’s arrival, the former top line of Karlsson, Marchessault, and Smith has looked almost unstoppable and appears to have their 2017-2018 mojo back, combining for 40 points, Smith with 15, Karlsson with 13, and Marchessault with 12.
If you think this is just a coincidence, you’re mistaken. The arrival of Stone created the line of Stastny, Stone, and Pacioretty, adding another level of scoring that now forces other teams to pick their poison: Against whom do they put up their top defensive line? Most teams are trying to shut down the Stone Age line, thus leaving the Karlsson line some open ice. The Stone Age line has combined for 27 points since being put together on Feb. 26 vs. Dallas. Pacioretty has scored 4 goals and 1 power-play goal, Stastny has 3 goals and 2 power-play goals, and Stone has 4 goals and 1 PPG.
The forwards aren’t only putting pucks into the net, they’re also playing an entire 60 minutes and covering all 200 feet of the ice surface. The VGK penalty kill, which has been one of their strong suits all year, shut down Winnipeg, which has the fourth-best power-play results out of the 31 teams. In the last 14 games, Winnipeg has scored 14 power-play goals; they’ve converted on 59 power-play goals in 229 chances for 25.8%. The top team, Tampa Bay, has a conversion rate of 29.3%. Winnipeg was 0-for-2 on the power play last night. For comparison purposes, the VGK power play, which has been dismal most of the season, has converted on only 38 PPG on 214 attempts (17.8%). Meanwhile, the VGK penalty kill is ranked seventh in the league, with an 81.8 % success rate.
In last night’s game, the Karlsson line combined for 4 goals and 2 assists and were a combined +11 for the game.
Winnipeg’s backup goaltender Laurent Brossoit was touched up for 3 goals on just 18 shots. The post-game report was that he took himself out of the game with a lower-body injury. He was replaced by Connor Hellebuyck, who gave up 2 goals on 20 shots. You all remember Connor, who last year in the Conference Final kept insisting that he liked his game better than Fleury’s. I would imagine he’s still under the impression that he likes his game better than Subban’s; Malcolm gave up zero goals on the same 20 shots.
Max Pacioretty left the ice late in the first period with an apparent leg injury and did not return. If this is a serious injury, it will have a resounding effect on second-line production and the power play.
Alex Tuch was moved up to the Stone line to replace Max for the remainder of the game.
“They’re playing with a little more confidence,” Coach Gallant said when asked what the Karlsson line is doing differently post-game. “I think right now, the last three games definitely, they’re getting a little mojo back and they feel good about themselves. They’re making confident plays, but they play the game the right way all the time. They never hurt you defensively and they work hard and compete hard, and it’s good to see Reilly Smith with a lot of confidence shooting the puck again.”
My 4 Stars of the Game (yes, four, because there’s no way I can omit Subban or not name one of the three players on the Karlsson line): In no particular order 1) Subban (first NHL career shutout with 20 saves and a personal three-game winning streak), 2) Reilly Smith (2 goals and a +4 for the night), William Karlsson (2 goals, 1 assist, and a +3 and the game-winning goal), Jonathan Marchessault (1 assist and a +4 for the game).
The next game is tomorrow night vs. Detroit at T-Mobile 7 p.m.
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Here are the links to the videos:
Coach Gallant on his blue suit
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