Jonathan Quick made a brief appearance in last night’s game. He lasted just 8 shots or 15:25 into the game, giving up 3 goals before being replaced by Cal Petersen.
A recurring problem for the VGK this season had been giving up goals on either the first shot of the game or in the early part of the first period, so scoring 3 goals on just 8 shots last night was unusual, especially with Marc-Andre Fleury in net. Over Fleury’s last 6 games, the team had scored only 9 goals. In four, they registered a single goal, 2 and 3 in the others. So last night’s 6 goals in the VGK’s 6-2 win over the L.A. Kings had to be a welcome sight for Fleury. The number 6-2 is also the VGK record in their 8 games against the Kings in this truncated 56-game season.
The win was also another milestone accomplishment for Fleury, who continues to climb the ladder in all time wins by a goaltender. It was his 485th passing Ed Belfour for sole possession of 4th place. The next rung up the ladder is Roberto Luongo, who sits at 489 wins. With 14 games left in the season and if Coach DeBoer stays with the same rotation, Fleury should get at least 7 more starts. If he wins 5 of his last 7 starts, he’ll pass Luongo. His ticket to the Hockey Hall of Fame is already punched. The only question that remains is, will he go in as a Pittsburgh Penguin or as a Vegas Golden Knight? I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I believe it’ll be as a Penguin. Sad but true.
Even with last night’s win, the VGK still trails the Colorado Avalanche by 4 points, with Vegas having 1 game in hand. Colorado continues on their torrid pace, last night beating the St. Louis Blues 4-3 in St. Louis for their 17th win in the last 20 games.
Looking at the remaining schedule for these 2 teams, Vegas has 14 games left, 8 against non-playoff teams. Colorado has 13 games left, the same 8 against non-playoff teams. The big difference in the schedule is that Colorado’s last 5 games are against the weaker teams in the division, while Vegas plays 2 against Minnesota on the road and 2 against St. Louis, which is clinging to the final playoff position. The key to Vegas passing Colorado for the top spot, which will assure them of home ice in the first 2 rounds, will be the 2 games at T-Mobile vs. Colorado on April 26 and April 28. That will most likely determine who will be the Honda West Division champion.
The newest addition to the VGK made his way to L.A. and made a very good impression on all who watched, including Pete DeBoer.
“We dropped a real good player into the lineup,” he said of Mattias Janmark.
Even linemate Tomas Nosek praised him. “It was a lot of fun to play with him. He brings speed and skill. I think we had pretty good chemistry for the first game and hopefully, we keep it going and be good every game.”
Speaking of Nosek, the VGK’s newest “scoring machine” once again lit the lamp for his 8th goal of the season, a career high, along with his career-high 17th point. With 14 games to go and at his current pace, I’m sure he’ll break his personal record for goals and assists.
Tuch and Stone snapped their goal droughts on Monday night and both had goals in the VGK 6-goal outburst. Chandler Stephenson, who did everything but score on Monday, once again showcased his speed by tracking down a pass from Max Pacioretty, then passed 8 of the 10 players on the ice on his way to a breakaway and his 9th goal of the season.
Other game notes. Pacioretty scored on a backhanded alley-oop pass toward Jonathan Quick that was just meant to be a puck dump into the zone for a line change. It took a weird bounce and wound up being the goal that sent Quick to the showers.
“It was a terrible break for him,” Pacioretty said. “The craziest bounce you could ever imagine. It’s very lucky, but at the same time, you feel for Quickie.” Pacioretty has scored six points (three goals, three assists) in his past four games.
Alec Martinez had 1 assist and was a +4 for the game.
Fleury stopped 20 of the 22 shots he faced; one that he missed bounced past him off of Zach Whitecloud’s skate. He was visibly upset with this goal, but that all changed when he finally got the goal support he has been waiting for over the previous 6 games.
I believe that the addition of Janmark settles the 3rd line uncertainty that has plagued the team all season, as Nosek, Tuck, and Janmark looked good last night. I know it’s just a small sample, but it’s a good start to having the ability to roll 4 lines in the playoffs, which is paramount for long-term success over a possible 28 playoff games. But this solution also creates another uncertainty: Where does Cody Glass fit in now with this team?
My 3 Stars Of The Game
1) Tomas Nosek (1G,1A)
2) Alex Tuch (1G, 1A
3) Mark Stone (1G, 1A)
Next game is tomorrow vs. Anaheim at 7 p.m. Pacific Time.
If you want to hear and see more VGK content, check out the podcast I do with Eddie Rivkin on YouTube, “Hockey Knights in Vegas.”
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.
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Kevin Logan wrote
Great read!!!
Ed Williams sent this comment in
If the games get rough they can stick Reaves on the 4th line. But remember last years playoffs when they only scored 12 games in their last 8 games. Scoring is tougher in the playoffs. You can always insert Roy in there instead of Reaves if they need some scoring..
Ed without a doubt
Joe P
Ed Williams added this
They have three solid lines now with Janmark in there.Janmark looked good considering it was his first game with these guys.He had an assist, was +2 , had a blocked shot , one hit and played 15:21..They could have a decent 4th line with Roy , Carrier and Kolesar..They could wear teams out in the SCP..
Ed Williams against teams with speed like the Av’s Roy Carrier and Kolesar are the better option. But the way to slow down the Av’s is to play physical so it’s a double edge sword then. Then I believe that Carrier Kolesar and Reaves are the way to go against the Av’s and play your 4th line against the Wild.
Joe P
Ed
If they happen to draw St. Louis as their playoff matchup size will be needed as they are a very heavy team. A line of 75-28-55 will be needed. One player in particular on the does not like to be hit and that is former VGK Perron
Joe P.
Ed Williams responded to my comment
I like the bigger lineup against St. Louis. Its hard to be physical against a fast team like Colorado if you cant catch them. And you don’t want to be taking any lazy hooking or holding penalties against them with their strong PP unit..
Reeves apparently out for a while along with Kolesar so 4th line a tad shaky…..Jurco seems okay. I think Glass will stay with HSK, at least until the playoffs and wouldn’t be shocked if he was moved in the off-season. I think he is really talented but needs development with his own offense…..just being a great passer won’t get it at this level. Really like Janmarks’ game and by his own admission didn’t have his legs last night and still was quick……good things ahead.
Yes Thomas the development of Cody Glass is not going as planned and trying to slot him in between the meatgrinders will do noting to further his development he needs to play with skilled forwards who have soft hands. The 4th line has hands of stone 🙂
Joe P.
Rusty Griswald sent this comment in
At the end of the day, if stone and patches go missing in the playoffs like last year, none of it matters.
Rusty they will need contribution’s up and down the entire lineup. getting out of the Honda West Division will not be an easy road there are 3 solid team besides the VGK
Joe P.
Nicholas Roop submitted this comment
Janmark coming from behind the net and hooking around and taking a shot right from the slot MORE OF THIS instead of passing to the point all of the time or dumping back below the goal line or skating up to the blue line fumbling the puck offsides and having to clear out of the offensive zone! This was refreshing to see on this team.
Nicholas Roop and he admitted he didn’t have his legs going last night with all of the travel that was required to get him to LA.
Joe P.
Nicholas Roop responded back
🤣 that guy was literally all over the ice
Nicholas Roop he did have a lot of legs I wonder what he will skate like when he is fresh kind of scary but in a good way. I think the VGK have a keeper in Janmark
Joe P.
Pia McDonell asked this question of me
Joe Pane do you see Fleury ending his career in Pittsburgh and not Vegas?
Pia McDonell No absolutely not he will end his career here in Las Vegas but if you would have asked me this question after the playoffs last summer I would have told you that Fleury may have played his last game as a VGK. The only reason I mentioned his induction into the Hall of Fame as a Penguin is that most of his accomplishments happened in Pittsburgh. I would love to see him wearing a dual hat of Pitt/Vegas when he is inducted. One can only wish.
Joe P.
Pia McDonell responded
Joe Pane I can see a ‘dual’ hat if Vegas wins a cup, with Fleury playing a good amount of the time in net, similar to that we have seen this year
Pia McDonell if he were to win a cup here in Vegas that may be the hat he would wear proudly.
Joe P.