Following the Edmonton game, I praised the play and goaltending of the VGK in their complete 4-0 win against a division opponent. Well, last night, it was just the opposite. The Calgary Flames embarrassed the VGK with 6 unanswered goals in their dominating win at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Alberta.
Is Calgary that good? Or are the Edmonton Oilers a train wreck? Or should we be concerned about the VGK, considering their lackluster performance last night in a game that has implications in regard to who will win the Pacific Division and secure home ice through the first 2 rounds of the playoffs?
Granted, Vegas was playing their second game in 2 nights and Calgary their first game since the All-Star break, but the VGK have been solid both on the road and in back-to-back games this season. They were 9-1-1 in their last 11 road games and looked to increase their lead over Calgary, who they led by 7 points prior to the game. The 7-point lead is somewhat, deceiving as Calgary has played the fewest games in the Pacific Division at 43, while Vegas has played 48 games. With these 5 games in hand, they have a value of potentially 10 points the Flames have their sights set on overtaking the VGK for the top spot in the Division.
The way the game looked last night, this could very well happen if Vegas continues to play well in one game and not even be a significant threat in another important divisional game. I wrote after Tuesday’s game that Colorado may be the team that stands in the way of the VGK returning to the Stanley Cup Final. I may have to correct that: They first have to get by the Flames to even have the opportunity to play Colorado.
There will be no praise from me in regard to their performance last night. It stunk up and down the lineup from the crease on out. The players themselves said so along with Coach DeBoer
“We knew they were going to come,” Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb said. “They’re a good team. They start fast. They dominated us from start to finish. They embarrassed us. They deserved to win that one like they did.
“No excuse,” DeBoer said. “We know they’re a quick-starting team. We knew they’d be hungry and ready to play and were treating this as a really important game. We were prepared for all that. No excuse for how we started the game. The game was essentially over 20 minutes in, unfortunately.”
The Flames had 16 scoring chances to only 4 for Vegas in the first period. The Flames, like Vegas on Tuesday night, made the most of their shots against Robin Lehner as they scored their first 3 goals on just 11 shots. The Flames had a lot of jump early and Vegas came out flat and unprepared for what they knew was coming.
You can make excuses that Mark Stone wasn’t in the lineup and Zach Whitecloud is still missing, but it was clear from the drop of the puck that Vegas was not ready and the absence of Stone and Whitecloud was not the difference at all.
Jacob Markstrom stopped all 28 shots that Vegas eventually managed to direct his way. It was Markstrom’s league-leading 8th shutout of the season. Down at the other end of the ice, Robin Lehner was dinged for 6 goals on just 33 shots for a disappointing .818 save percentage
Matthew Tkachuck, who plays on the edge most nights and truth be told is a pain in the ass to play against, also seems to score at will against the VGK. Even though prior to last night’s game, VGK held a 9-3 overall record against the Flames, Tkachuck has scored 9 goals in 11 games and added 8 assists against Vegas; 17 points in 11 games is outstanding. Last night, he had 1 goal and 2 assists, along with Mikael Backlund who had a career high 4-point night with 1 goal and 3 assists. Andrew Mangipane chipped in with 2 goals for the victory, which was Calgary’s 4th straight win and 6th of their last 7, which has propelled them right up the back of the VGK for the top spot in the Pacific.
Other game notes and quotes.
“We knew they were waiting for us,” Jonathan Marchessault said. “They’ve been waiting for a while, and we came off just flat. There’s no excuse for our group. We’re a veteran group and we know how to handle those situations, and we definitely didn’t do it tonight.”
Stone didn’t play because of an upper-body injury. He’ll be evaluated in Vegas, according to DeBoer. Based upon his post-game comments, this injury may be longer than just day to day.
Brett Howden’s personal four-game goal streak ended.
Vegas was 0-for-2 on the power play and is 1-for-18 (5.6%) in the past seven games.
Max Pacioretty’s scoreless streak is now 10 games, the longest in his tenure with the VGK. The last time Pacioretty scored was back on Dec 14 when he scored 2 goals vs. Boston on the east coast road trip.
My 3 stars of the game: Jacob Markstrom (stopped all 28 shots for his league-leading 8th shutout), Mikael Backlund (1G, 3A), Andrew Mangipane (2G)
Next game is a week away, Wednesday Feb 16 vs. Colorado 7 p.m. at T-Mobile
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
For more VGK content, check out the Hockey Knights in Vegas Podcast that can be found at this link or on my Facebook page.
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.
Markstrom robs Nolan Patrick
Tkachuk’s between the legs goal
Highlight saves from Markstrom
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Tara Cranfield had this to say about the title of the blog
Thats an understatement! 😡
Bill Dickerson asked this question of me
What are your thoughts on Stone? Are they playing cap games to try to keep team intact? Figuring if Eichel comes back even without stone this team is pretty good and should have no problems making the playoffs. If they think resting his back will help in the playoffs one would have to consider it is my opinion. Stone has been around long enough to be able to come back after a layoff. And if that happens, I think they could find a way to actually add at deadline instead of subtracting.
Bill Dickerson, I believe your thought are a very good plan of attack that they may be considering. It’s a smart move and one that Tampa Bay used perfectly.
Joe P.
Bill Dickerson responded
Joe Pane from a management perspective and knowing this management which is cutthroat win at all costs I think it may happen. From my perspective I think it cheapens winning the cup to me. As I feel they are going into a grey area of cap management. But I believe McPhee understands his chances are limited and he is goanna look at every way to get a competitive advantage.
Reply3m
Bill Dickerson, I agree that it’s a gray area, but no one is discounting the cup won by Tampa Bay. It’s a rule in the CBA so they are in compliance. But one that may be changed if it continues to be abused.
Joe P.
Bill Dickerson
Joe Pane I agree it is technically allowed and is the leagues fault for not addressing it. There were a lot of complaints about Tampa last year and I’m sure the Vegas was handed a cup contender crowd will be up in arms if they go this direction. But if they win as the years go by the noise dies off and it is a cup. Still not 100 percent liking it as I said it feels kind of cheap. But with that said I don’t want smith traded so I’m kind of torn on it.
Bill Dickerson, yes Smith is the likely one to go along with another big contract if they move contracts and not go the LTIR route
Joe P.
Hey Joe.
Great recap as always!
About the entrance of Eichel, let go of Theodore and Dadonov. That´s 10.2 M$.
The mistakes, the strange positioning in the D-zone and the fact that he seems to be afraid of playing near the boards outweights the amount of points Theo produces.
Dadonov is a “One Trick Pony”. When entering the O-zone with the puck on the blade, he uses a double toedrag (it´s hard to describe) and shoots when the puck is as far from his body. He can´t get enough power on the shot to score compared to a shooter like Patchy who has a natural goal scorers technique. Dadonov was a player expected to score a lot of goals when Vegas traded for him.
Kolesar is another player who has disappointed most fans with his play this season.
He was supposed to take over after Reavo but he hasn´t Reaves toughness and his skills are buried deep in the Nevada desert.
His goal scoring abilities makes him an participant in a score competition between periods in a home game. He will not win!
There are other players who are better in his role as a tough guy. They have more tools in their box than him.
Trade him too and the VGK have got rid of 11 M$.
A more resolute solution is giving Stone a good old wack on his back and put him on LTIR till the playoff starts.
He`s worth 9.5 M$!
Last nights efforts from the VGK players made me fall off the horse and it almost put my name on the Covid-19 list again.
It was that bad!
It was a traditional giveaway party except that there weren´t any gifts for the Vegas players.
There were no hat-trick for Patrick.
Gaudreau played peek-a-boo with Fumledore and Theo was so lost in the end that he had his trousers backwards.
Change goalies and Markstrom won`t be the better goalie of the game.
Lehner could have an shot-out instead.
Calgary had the better defence last night, but that could change if or when Martinez and Whitecloud are back in the team again.
DeBoer can´t play 27. Giveaway and 52. Turnover together in an important playoff game if he want´s the SC this year.
Covid-19 can be the x-factor in the run for the SC. Let´s hope not!
Stay safe, stay healthy.
Kenneth
If you read between the lines with Coach DeBoer words last night and I have listened to him since early 2020 when he spoke about Stone and his injury my feelings are that the team is prepared to sit him for a while so he can recover from this injury that has been lingering with him now for almost 2 months. By putting him on LTIR they then create cap space to work Eichel into the lineup as he learns the team’s system that Stone already knows. It would be an easier transition for Stone to rejoin the team come playoff time while Eichel get playoff ready with his new team and a new system with a bunch of games down the stretch. As far as Theodore goes his defensive lapses and fumbling the puck especially on the power play is a problem that just will not go away. I kid with Eddie Rivkin in the press box that Theordore needs a new stick the one he is using seems to have a hole in it.
Joe P.
Thank´s for your answer, Joe.
My lack of energy makes me sort out what´s important in my life for the moment.
My girlfriend Eva, my son Christoffer, my dog Happy (17yo), watching VGK games, reading your blog and leaving replies, listening to your podcast and watching a few sports at the OG in Beijing.
Normally I watch 1-3 NHL-games a day but that´s when I´m healthy.
You and Eddie makes my VGK heart tick and the info you give is priceless for me.
Eva listens to every episode of “Hockey Knights in Vegas” and she´s watching every VGK game together with me.
Do you have any swedish readers or listeners?
Christine Balz had this to say
Maybe “Coach Christine” shoulda took her #LoudNoises to Cow Town and put a fire under their ass like I did in Deadmonton! 🤣🤣
Christine Balz “Coach Christine” they could use any help you could offer. Maybe a fire maybe a “ZINGER” something to wake them up.
Joe P.
Christine Balz “Coach Christine” they could use any help you could offer. Maybe a fire maybe a “ZINGER” something to wake them up.
Joe P.
Douglas Carle sent this comment in
Totally agree. It was an absolute debacle last night. Funny how our backup goalie gets a shutout against the better team the night before and our “$5 million a year starter “that we gave Fleury away for stinks the joint out. He has got to go, and we need to re-sign Marc next season
Sandee Seaton Byrd responded to Douglas
Douglas Carle, I don’t think Panda gets all the blame . . . he had no help in front of the net (or even close by the net several times!) The whole team was out skated and lethargic.
Douglas Carle replied
Sandee Seaton Byrd the problem is when the team plays well, he plays mediocre and when the team plays bad, he plays horrendous. He is an anchor that’s going to pull this team down.
Anne-Marie Denoyer responded to Douglas
Douglas Carle 💯 agree
Douglas Carle had this to say also
Anne-Marie Denoyer Over the previous four seasons there was dozens and dozens of games where Fleury won the game by himself when the team in front of him didn’t bother to show up. With Lehner that simply doesn’t happen. He has bounced from team to team because how he is playing now is how he has played everywhere before – he simply plays like he doesn’t give a flying leap. He had a good game a number of games back simply because the social media storm calling for his head reached a crescendo. Well that newfound effort lasted about one game.
If this team is ever going to get to the next level, they need to jettison him, Pacioretty and Deboer. They need to re-sign Fleury – otherwise Vegas is going to be doomed to stay what they are now, a so-so team.
Mike Guido added this to the conversation
We get crushed almost every time we play there. But we are 7-0 against them at home. Unfortunately, games like this happens. Forget about it and move on. We have bigger fish to fry now with Colorado on 2/16.
Charlie Anzalone added this
Houston, we have a goalie problem 😂😂😂
Charlie
Where have I heard this before? 🙂
Joe P.
Larry Smithson replying to Charlie
Yes, we do . the dumbshits in the front office got rid of our best goalie.
Joanne Steagall wrote
Your article is spot on
Joanne Steagall I always try to tell it like it is.
Joe P.
Brian Mishefske had this opinion
I was pure domination by the Flames from start to finish, we looked tired and flat. The only good thing it’s 1 loss. On to the next one and Go Knights. Great article Joe.
Brian Mishefske It may be only 1 loss, but it comes against a team who is chasing down the VGK. This performance can and could give the Flames some confidence going forward against the VGK especially if and when they meet in the playoffs.
Joe P.
Brian Mishefske responded back
Joe Pane I tried not to type that because yeah that’s a 4-point spread to the Flames and we both know confidence is contagious to a team, especially with less than a half season left. Coach needs to get this fixed and quick because we can’t lay eggs against any team.
Brian Mishefske But I did sorry 🙂
Joe P.
Brian Mishefske responded back
Joe Pane hey you are a very good writer I’m just a fan with spelling issues. 😂
Brian Mishefske well thank you between spell check and my editor I can’t help but look good 🙂
Joe P.
Kristi Scott Smith wrote
I can’t explain this team sometimes. But one consistent thing I saw was the turnovers in both games
Kristi Scott Smith they can be baffling sometimes, they play great and then they have a “Stinker”
Joe P.
Marie Archuletta-Nabit wrote this
Joe, you absolutely stated this perfectly!! It seems like always our top guns are out on injury between Pacioretty and stone they never seem to be showing up but yet no one gives Marchy credit this kid plays amazing!!
This was an embarrassing game that I believe none of them showed up for!! I wish they would play Brossoit more often as I am not a fan of Lehner’s 🥴
Marie Archuletta-Nabit I write what I see and i have been watching hockey for a long time so not much gets by me. I root for the VGK but I’m not one bit hesitant to be critical of them when they deserve the criticism. One further point that I totally agree with you on Marchy plays with the most determination and almost never takes a night or shift off.
Joe P.
Pat Hella wrote
WE WILL BE BACK!!!!!!!!
John Robertson sent this comment in
Certainly not our best
John Robertson might be their worst performance all season.
Joe P.
Damien Garrett sent this comment in
No effort from the boys against the flames. Frustrating and pathetic overall