Knights on Ice — A Complete Reversal or More of the Same?

After the last 2 VGK games, there was no way but up. The Knights pretty much played as badly as they possibly could, especially in the last 4 periods. And just 25 seconds into last night’s game, things seemed to be consistent, or was it really inconsistent as far as their play goes? They gave up 3 goals in the first period to the St. Louis Blues once again last night, just like they did on Jan. 4 before roaring back to win the game 5-4 in overtime. Last night when Jonathan Marchessault scored a power-play goal exactly halfway through the OT period, the VGK completed yet another comeback against the Blues, this time 6-5.

The power play that Marchessault scored on was one he drew when he broke in a step ahead of 2 of the 3 St. Louis players on the ice in the 3-on-3 OT. Marchessault lobbied the referee for a penalty shot, but since he actually got off a backhanded shot, it most likely influenced the official to issue a 2-minute minor instead.

In ice hockey, a penalty shot is awarded when a team loses a clear scoring opportunity on a breakaway due to a foul committed by an opposing player. A player from the non-offending team is given an attempt to score a goal without opposition from any defending players except the goaltender.

I bet Marchy is happy that he didn’t get the penalty shot and instead the team got the power play. One could understand why Marchy wanted the puck on his stick to decide the game; coming in, the VGK power play was 3 for 26 (a pathetic 11.5%).

The average conversion rate of a penalty shot is 33%, so Marchy figured he had a better chance to win the game that way than rely on the VGK power play, which has stunk up every arena they have played in recently.

You know how that saying goes: Don’t ask for something, because you just might get it. In hindsight, all 18,257 fans in attendance (minus the St. Louis Blues players’ dads who were on a dads trip) were ecstatic that Marchy’s request for the penalty shot was denied when he buried a rebound shot from Max Pacioretty after Mark Stone made an incredible play. Stone kept the puck in the zone when it looked for sure it was going to leave the zone, which would have forced all 4 of the VGK players to leave along with it to re-establish a legal entry back onto offense.

Speaking of Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty, they continue to be the brightest lights on the Las Vegas Strip. Both have for the most part taken the entire team on their backs, especially during this current rough patch. Unlike the Jan. 4 game where St. Louis scored 3 first-period goals while shutting out Vegas, last night Max Pacioretty kept the game close with 2 first-period goals and actually had Vegas ahead at one point at 2-1. That was the only lead Vegas had the entire game until Marchy sent T-Mobile into a well-deserved frenzy. Vegas had lost their last 4 home games. The last time the VGK won at T-Mobile was on Jan. 4. Yes, it’s hard to believe, but the VGK had not won a game at T-Mobile in 40 days. Granted, there was the All-Star Break off week and the 8-game road trip, but 40 days between wins at T-Mobile seemed like a lifetime.

Last night’s game was very physical with 93 total hits; Vegas had 49. St. Louis is noted for being a heavy team and last night they kept that reputation up and Vegas was happy to tag along. Even little David Perron is listed as 6 feet and 200 pounds, which I can clearly tell you is fake news. I’m 6 feet and weigh 200 pounds and I’ve stood next to David multiple times in the VGK locker room. But Perron decided he’d had enough of Ryan Reaves and the 2 of them wound up rolling around on the ice in front of the St. Louis net. Perron and Reaves have been teammates twice, in St. Louis when they both played for the Blues, and with the VGK when Reaves came over at the trade deadline in February 2018. After the last Vegas St. Louis game at T-Mobile in January, Perron had a few choice words for Reaves and his tendency to play physically. Reaves was clearly looking for Perron last night and when he took the opening faceoff against him, he gave David a love tap to make sure Perron knew he was ready to tango if Perron wanted to.

Every player on the VGK had at least one hit, except for Shea Theodore, who is on fire point-wise, having scored 27 points in the last 25 games. This surpassed his career high of 37 points. He had 2 assists last night for his 38^th and 39^th points of the season. Revo led the VGK with 7 hits. Sammy Blais and Brayden Schenn led St. Louis with 9 hits each.

The VGK dominated in shots taken: 52 to St. Louis’ 24. St. Louis blocked 21 shots of the 73 that were fired at Jordan Binnington.

Malcolm Subban had what I would call a strange game. He looked horrible at times, especially in the first period, and at times made key saves to keep the score from getting out of hand, which allowed Vegas to scratch and claw their way somehow back into this game. Subban wound up with a .792 save percentage — terrible. You don’t win many games when your goaltender has that low of a save percentage.

Vegas scored 4 power-play goals on 5 attempts and held St. Louis scoreless on their 2 power plays. The 4 PPG in a game ties the team record. Vegas scored 4 power-play goals against Tampa Bay on December 19, 2017. In that game, Shea Theodore scored with 2.3 seconds left in the game for the 4-3 victory. It was also a 4-point night for Theodore. In my opinion, that game put the entire NHL on notice that the VGK were a special team and not just an expansion team and they sure did prove that in their inaugural season. It was lightning in a bottle that took them all the way to the Stanley Cup Final, which unfortunately has set the bar very high for all VGK fans going forward.

Here’s an interesting fact: St. Louis is the only team that the VGK has never beaten in regulation. They’ve only lost to Vegas in overtime. In the 9 games these 2 teams have played against each other, St. Louis is 5-0-4.

Marchessault had an amazing 11 shots on goal last night and 2 goals; Mark Stone had 4 assists Pacioretty had 2 goals and 1 assist.

My 3 Stars of the Game: Max Pacioretty (2 goals, 1 assist, and he kept the game close in the first period), Jonathan Marchessault ( 2 PPG and the game winner in overtime), Zach Sanford (4 goals)

Sorry, Mark Stone. I couldn’t leave any of the above 3 off of the list. But you had the mindset to stop moving the puck around until Pacioretty cleared the broken stick out of your passing lane. That was classic move that only a totally skilled played could make.

Next game is Saturday vs. the Islanders. Please note the starting time of 7:30. Another big game for the VGK to solidify last night’s victory.

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Marchy winning goal in OT