The VGK cracked opened the game last night against the Seattle Kraken with two 3rd period goals by Reilly Smith just 46 seconds apart to break a 2-2 tie and go on to a 4-2 win.
The VGK opened the season with a win against the Kraken, then proceeded to lose the next 4 games for an unexpected 1-4 start to the season. Since then, Vegas has gone 6-2 and has moved within 1 point of the last playoff spot in the Pacific Division.
Truth be told, the first 40 minutes of the game were uneventful even though both teams had 2 goals each. Most of the play was either on the perimeter or in the neutral zone. I called it a snooze fest to my fellow media in attendance who were of the same opinion.
Seattle opened the scoring 1:15 into their power play on a goal by Jordan Eberle after Chandler Stephenson was called for unsportsmanlike conduct for grabbing the visor of a Kraken player in a scrum in front of Lehner. It was Eberle’s 7th goal in the last 7 games and it appeared that the PPG would stand up for a Kraken 1-0 lead after 20 minutes. But Alex Pietrangelo took things into his own hands and scored his 3rd goal of the season on a slap shot from the point with just 25.8 seconds left in the first period.
Pietrangelo also added an assist on Reilly Smith’s PPG that made the score 4-2. Pietrangelo, much like the VGK, got off to a slow start this season, scoreless in his first 7 games. In his last 6 games, he has 3 goals and 4 assists.
Another VGK player who has stepped up in the absence of Stone, Pacioretty, and Karlsson is Jonathan Marchessault, who had 2 assists last night on both Reilly Smith’s goals.
Robin Lehner made 25 saves on the 27 shots he faced and like Pietrangelo has been spectacular in his last 6 games, going 5-1 with a 2.30 GAA and .931 save percentage.
Seattle did manage to go ahead 2-1 as the 2nd period was about to end when Yanni Gourdie scored with just 31 seconds left and once again it appeared that Vegas would go to the locker room trailing by 1. But this time, Evgeni Dadonov responded with just 15 seconds after Gourdie’s goal to send both teams to the locker room tied at 2-2.
Only the late-period heroics kept the crowd awake through 40 minutes of mundane hockey. I’m not sure what was said in the VGK locker room before they came out for the 3rd period, but whatever it was, it paid dividends. Vegas scored just 30 seconds into the 3rd period when Shea Theodore fired a slap shot from the point. The game-winning goal was credited to Reilly Smith, who told us post-game that he never touched the puck, but the official scoring remained with Smith. Just 46 seconds after the Theodore/Smith goal, Reilly scored his PPG. That was the first power play goal scored by the VGK this season at T-Mobile. Hard to believe but it is.
Both the Kraken and the VGK are ranked 31 and 32 on the power play, yet both teams scored a PPG last night. Hockey gods have a sense of humor, I guess.
The Kraken outhit the VGK 30/15. My thinking is that the VGK are trying somewhat to avoid physical contact whenever they can, as their injured reserve roster is long and painful. But one hit last night by Brayden McNabb was worth 15; he crushed Kraken forward Brandon Tanev along the right-wing boards that sent a “WHOA!” through the 18,246 in attendance at T-Mobile.
I know a lot of you who weren’t in that crowd probably didn’t have the opportunity to watch the game, which was on only ESPN+ and HULU. The silver lining to that, like I said, is you missed a snorer for the first two periods.
Other game notes and quotes
“I didn’t tip it,” Smith said of his first goal. “I think that’s Shea’s, but if he doesn’t want it, I’ll take it.”
“We were 1-4 there, but most of us weren’t panicking,” Lehner said. “We have a lot of belief in our group and our depth and our system, and I think we’re slowly getting there.”
“That goal by Dadonov was huge for us,” Smith said. “That’s a huge momentum swing, being able to tie the game going into the third period like that.”
My 3 Stars of the Game: Reilly Smith (2G, including a much-needed PPG), Alex Pietrangelo (1G, 1A, during just shy of 24 minutes of ice time), William Carrier (2A and the primary assist on Dadonov’s goal that was a big momentum swing for the team ending the 2nd period)
Next game is tomorrow vs. the Minnesota Wild at T-Mobile at 7 p.m.
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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Hey joe, thanks for the recap. I saw the game on swedish TV.
First the not so good reflections. VGK doesn´t play with a flow. They´re not passing the puck more than one or two times in a row. The only line who had passing combinations that lead to o-zone pressure was the Smith-line. Getting the puck out of the d-zone was almost impossible and lead to Kraken pressure in front of Lehner. In the d-zone VGK often play positioned as a diamond or a square with the fifth man in the middle. Kraken often found their man in the middle for a direct shot at Lehner. Against a better team VGK must stop that kind of set play. And no more bad penalties, please.
Secondly the good moments. Lehner was terrific. He saved us and I mean the players, staff and the fans. A few good streaks of
“Eureka-moments” saved the game. It´s like they suddenly remembered how to pass to each other. And it looked like they had good intensions but couldn´t convert the play to a goal chance. They scored on a PP. They scored four times.
Carrier has a career as a soccer player. 😂🤣😁 And he has a Will to get to the net at any cost. 🤦♂️😉
My three stars: Lehner, Smith and Pietrangelo.
DeBoer smiled during the game and that is almost worth a fourth star of the game. There ain´t many coaches that smiles during a game. His red head of anger from his years as a coach for Sharks is almost gone.
Eichel handled the siren as the injury in his neck where gone. When I had the same kind of injury five years ago I couldn´t have done the same thing without screaming in pain. I wonder if he´s got a crashed disc which hasn´t erupted and doesn´t creates any pressure against the nerve string and the spinal cord. (Spinal stenosis) That´s what happened to me and I had the same kind of surgery as Eichel will have on friday. He´s gonna be alright and so will VGK in the beginning of 2022.
Have patience!
Kenneth did you also think for the first 2 periods it was a BORING hockey game between 2 teams who are floundering or maybe just trying to find their way?
Joe P.
Yes it was boring until the last minute of the second period when the goals kept tumbling in. I recorded the game on my cable-box so I watched it earlier today. I didn´t have to wait for the next pair of goals. On the third goal my “girlfriend”, she´s older than to be a girl, Eva directly said that Smith tipped it in. I was second on the puck on that decision, wasn´t I?
VGK knows where they are players wise but they are trying out ways to win games with the cards they have on hand.
Kraken is probably wondering what VGK did so good when they where a totally new team. On that you can write a book.
Kraken goalies are no way near as good as Fleury where and a good goalie is the most important player especially on a new team.
Jeff Miller had this comment
King of the pun
Jeff Miller I take it you don’t appreciate my humor. It was a perfect spot to use Kracken in the title.
Joe P.
Jeff Miller responded
Joe Pane didn’t say that…lol
Jeff Miller OK now I feel much better 🙂
Joe P.
Judy Billman Grech sent this comment in
Good read as usual.
Judy Billman Grech Thank you
Joe P.
Pat Rudder Robertson sent his comment in to my opinion that the game was a snooze fest
Joe Pane that comment didn’t age well….
Pat Rudder Robertson when I called it a snooze fest, that was my opinion in regards to the first 2 periods only.
The VGK stepped up their game in the 3rd period.
Joe P.
If you say kraken in swedish it means “the poor little sod”.
If you say PK Subban in swedish it means “Political Korrect (PK) and a very bad name to call a woman (Subban).
If Subban comes to play in Sweden the fans would have a little fun. Swedish hockey fans are much more louder than north-american. They are cheering for their team through the whole game. NHL is a lot more fun to watch.
Are the fans loud at The Fortress or is it the music that´s loud?
Kenneth the entire building rocks with the fans and the music
Joe P.
Saw the Ducks agaist the Eunucks and the fans quiet till the last five minutes. The fans at the Fortress and and in Smashville are the loudest I´ve heard in the NHL. The game itself was anti-hockey at it´s ugliest.
What happened between Lehner and Carrier at the celebrations after the final horn. It looked like Lehner push the guys away from him but Carrier didn´t listen to that and forced himself at Lehner. Lehner didn´t want any covid-hugs, or what? Don´t get Lehner angry because he´s the toughest guy on the team! 🐼🤬