When the resiliency of the VGK was put to the test last night in Vancouver, they responded, scratching and clawing their way back multiple times. With the score 2-0, they scored to close it to within one; Vancouver regained the 2-goal lead in the 2nd period to go back ahead 3-1 and the VGK scored again. The final VGK comeback was late in the third period when they trailed by 1 goal again with just over 4 minutes left in the game. Alas, they ultimately fell short: 5-4 in OT.
Mark Stone’s goal late in the 3rd period seemed to change the momentum of the game in the VGK’s favor for the 3rd time. But the demons that plague the VGK in OT could not be avoided. Vegas didn’t register a single shot on goal in the OT period.
With Vancouver leading 3-1 in the 2nd period, Vegas responded with 2 goals just 1:09 apart, the first from Reilly Smith, the second from Nick Holden, which forced Vancouver coach Travis Green to use his timeout to stop the bleeding before it got out of control.
In Vegas’ first 37 games this season, they’ve failed to come back and win a game when they trailed by 2 goals or more. Last night, it appeared that they were finally going to check that off their bucket list when Mark Stone scored to tie the game at 4-4 with just 4:20 left. They had Vancouver on their heels and with just over 2 minutes left, Vegas received their first power play of the game, while Vancouver feasted on the 5 power-play opportunities they were awarded with. Paul Stastny had a grade A scoring chance on the power play, but was denied by Jacob Markstrom, who stopped all but 4 of the 43 VGK shots that he faced.
In Vancouver’s first 35 games this season, the opposition has scored the first goal in 22 of them, but last night Vancouver got the first gracious bounce of the puck when it took a weird bounce out from behind the net and wound up in front of Fleury and on the stick of Antoine Roussel, who scored off the rebound that Fleury didn’t control just 2:49 into a crucial 4-point Pacific Division game. Vancouver added another goal for the 2-0 lead when Tanner Pearson scored on the power play, before the line of Marchessault, Karlsson, and Smith drew within one goal with Marchy’s goal with 6:02 left in the opening period. The first period ended 3-1 in favor of Vancouver.
Was there any fight left in the legs and hands of the VGK to trim the lead once again? Not only did they trim the lead, they scored twice within 1:09 with goals by Reilly Smith and Nick Holden. The stage was set as Vegas seemed to be in complete control of the game. They continuously shot pucks on Jacob Markstrom, who last night outplayed Marc-André Fleury.
It’s not often that Fleury gets outplayed, but last night he may have. Still, keep in mind he was playing with a heavy heart. It was the VGK Dad Trip and this was the night where the Flower may have had his dad on his mind more than expected. How could anyone blame him for that?
I know I can’t blame him if in fact he was not completely focused on the task at hand. So when Mark Stone scored with just 4:20 left in the game, I firmly believed that the VGK were not going to be denied, especially with his teammates knowing the absence of Mr. André Fleury was heavy on their goaltender’s mind.
Unfortunately, their resilience could only get them to the OT period and when Christopher Tanev scored off a pass from Bo Horvat 90 seconds into overtime on the 3rd shot of the period, the Dad Trip’s winning streak ended at 4-0.
Fleury, who is noted for poke checking the puck off of opposing forwards breaking in on him uncontested, missed the poke check on Tanev and that occurred because Nate Schmidt left the front of the net chasing a Vancouver forward out to the top of the faceoff circle. So much for the new VGK zone defense. Nate did have a rare off game last night.
Vancouver still hasn’t beaten the VGK in regulation; the only 2 wins Vancouver has over Vegas both came in OT periods.
The VGK Dad Trips still have a 5-game point streak going, as they’ve accumulated 9 points out of a possible 10.
Max Pacioretty kept his scoring streak going at 6 games with 5 goals and 5 assists. Mark Stone also has a 5-game point streak going with 2 goals and 8 assists.
Nick Holden’s goal, which tied the game at 3-3, was the 3rd straight game in which a VGK defenseman has scored a goal. His last 2 goals have come against Vancouver.
My 3 Stars of the Game: Jacob Markstrom (39 saves on 43 shots), Elias Petterson (2 goals), Mark Stone (1G, 1A)
Next game on Sunday should be a doozy: It’s against the San Jose Sharks at 7 p.m. The only question is: Does Subban get the start against the Sharks? Coach Gallant might want to save Fleury for the 2nd of back-to-back games on Monday at T-Mobile vs. Colorado for the top of the Pacific Division.
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