The goal when the VGK left Las Vegas on Tuesday for this 3-game road trip to the Pacific Northwest was either 6 points or prepare for a long and disappointing summer. Well, they secured the first 2 points of 6 with their 3-0 Victory at Climate Pledge Arena, and in the process eliminated the Seattle Kraken from reaching the playoffs in their inaugural season.
Their victory last night snapped their 7-game road losing streak on a strong performance by Logan Thompson, who did have one goal slip by him with just 2:08 left in the game and Chris Driedger pulled for an extra skater. Seattle appeared to score to trim the lead to 2-1. But the VGK video coach called down to suggest that Pete DeBoer challenge the play for offsides. A dicey situation: If they’re wrong, the goal stands and Seattle goes on a power play; with their goaltender on the bench, we’re looking at a 6-4 for basically the remainder of the game.
Five Las Vegas media guys in the press box all agreed that they must be 100% sure; otherwise, challenging would be a disaster. Rather quickly, it was ruled offsides and Logan Thompson’s first career shutout was saved.
Logan ended the game stopping all 22 shots he faced, while Chris Driedger stopped 27 of the 29 shots. Only Shea Theodore and Michael Amadio scored for the VGK. Theodore’s goal was a fortunate break for the VGK who haven’t been getting many breaks this season. Theodore was in the penalty box for high sticking and just as his penalty expired, he received a tape-to-tape blueline-to-blueline pass from Jonas Rondbjerg. Theodore broke in all alone one on one on Driedger and went forehand to backhand, lifting the puck up into the top of the net, for the only goal Vegas would need. It was the first point for Rondbjerg in 12 games, dating all the way back to Nov. 24 when he scored a goal against Nashville.
This victory was important, but also costly. The VGK, who started the game with only 11 forwards and dressed 7 defensemen, lost Keegan Kolesar to what appeared to be an upper-body injury when his head snapped back from a big hit along the boards just inside the blueline. Post-game, Pete DeBoer was asked why he went with the 11/7 lineup instead of the traditional 12/6. His implied that though Martinez and McNabb returned to the lineup, they might not be both playing at 100%. So the 7th defenseman was more an insurance policy for the team.
When Kolesar went down and didn’t return, DeBoer was forced to use Dylan Coghlan as the 10th forward, logging 8:46 of ice time, including 2:30 on the power play. Kolesar only had 4 :24 of ice time. Kolesar also had a pretty good fight against Jamie Oleksiak, who stands at 6’7” and weighs 255. Kolesar was giving up a considerable amount of height and weight as he is 6-2 and 221. Kolesar held his own against a much bigger and stronger man.
Jonathan Marchessault added an empty-net goal to close out the scoring. This goal broke Marchessault’s 7-game goalless streak. Jonathan scored a career-high 30 goals with the Florida Panthers in the 2016-17 season and followed that up with 27 goals in the first year of the VGK in the 2017-18 season.
Other game notes and quotes.
Vegas closed out the month of March with an 8-8 record, winning 6 games at T-Mobile and just 2 games on the road (March 4 vs. Anaheim and last night in Seattle)
They will not have the luxury of winning just 6 or 7 of their remaining 13 games of the season if they have any intentions of playing for the Stanley Cup. Looking at their schedule, they have a solid chance of winning 8 of the 13 games, which would give them 96 points. I believe that will be just enough to finish 2nd or 3rd in the Pacific Division.
“I think it’s getting better every day,” Thompson said. “I feel really comfortable in net and it’s just something I want to keep building off. The guys in front of me did a really good job and they deserve a lot of credit.”
“We’re playing a guy short and Kolesar comes out in the first,” Vegas coach Pete DeBoer said. “It feels like we haven’t been able to get into a four-line rhythm, because we will be short a body or two every night, but I thought we dug deep. I didn’t like our first period. They came out with a little more fire. Logan Thompson made some big saves in the first that allowed us to recognize that this was going to be a harder game than we thought.
“Big, big goal,” DeBoer said about Shea Theodore’s goal. “I think you guys have seen that the first goal is a difference maker for our group. Early in the season, we were getting it all the time. We went through a stretch when we didn’t get it at all and were playing from behind every night. We’re not scoring easily, so it’s a big goal for us.”
Vegas forward Evgenii Dadonov had his four-game goal streak end (five goals) in his 400th NHL game.
Even though Marchessault hadn’t scored in 7 games, he has contributed, scoring seven points (one goal, six assists) in the past three games.
My 3 Stars of the Game: Logan Thompson (1st NHL shutout and 22 saves in a game Vegas could not afford to lose), Michael Amadio (who never quit on the loose puck in the blue paint area, giving Vegas a little breathing room at 2-0, Shea Theodore (despite numerous giveaways of the puck, including an almost disastrous drop pass on the power play just 10 feet in front of LT, he did score the GWG as he exited the penalty box. Which I could not ignore for the 3rd star as much as I wanted to)
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.
Theodore’s GWG
Amadio’s greasy goal
Driedger stones Karlsson on his shorthanded attempt
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Richard Santomauro sent this comment in to the Vegas Hockey Guy’s Facebook Page
The VGK came out slow in period 1 as the Kraken took the first 4 or 5 shots on goal. Thompson was strong in net all night long. Of particular note is that the Kraken only had 22 shots on goal. Credit the return of Martinez “Alex the Block” and McNabb “Hip Buster”! But, please, let’s stop thinking that Kolesar is a fighter. He’s not, and we’re missing Reaves’ presence out there (#75 scored his 3rd goal of the season last night! ).. Eichel continues to impress. Karlsson continues to have “goal block”. The big question is why Lehner is active after having taken a shot to his injured labrum area in practice and having to leave the ice. Why, if he can’t even practice, is he active? Thompson has the hot hand. You ride the hot hand all the way to the playoffs and beyond.
Judy Schneider wrote
Thanks, Joe good article!!🧡🖤🇨🇦
Bryan Sandrock had this opinion on the Kolesar injury
Joe Pane I really think he brings nothing to the knights. I’d rather have ten other forwards splitting his 15 or so minutes…or even a defender playing forward would be better than kolesar-at least that’s my thought on that 🤷🏻♂️
Charles Hayworth wrote this
Seattle’s playoff hopes were gone weeks ago
Charles Hayworth this is true, but last night they were officially mathematically eliminated.
Joe P.
I was at the game! So proud of our guys ( esp LT). I must say the Kraken fans were excited and involved with every play . They were loud and proud when a Kraken player had his stick on the puck. I agree with you, the Kraken played like they wanted to extend their season.
If the Knights keep their eye on the puck and take every shot with skill – this could be a great way to enjoy the rest of adventure to the playoffs.
Hey Joe.
I`ve just been watching the first period of the game against Kraken. It’s just another episode of the series “The Vegas Golden Knights Experience” (not to be mistaken with “The Jimi Hendrix Experience”). This episode contains a Reaves-wannabe black player (not to be mistaken with Jimi Hendrix) who tries to show that he belongs to the big burly guys.
After losing a fight against André the Giant he is hit so hard that the lights goes out.
Let’s hope he’s not coming back for the second period because he has proved that he’s not an enforcer, nor a great hitter and the most important thing, he’s not a hockeyplayer at the NHL level. But I hope he`s not injured.
I’ll be back after the second period.
Joe, I`m back.
The Experience should be named “The Not Enough Forwards Experiment” instead.
Fumbledore does one thing right in the period when he scores a goal. The stars must have been in the right position for him at that moment.
Eva said “Thompson should never ever turn his back to Fumbledore” when he “misplayed” the reverse pass in the D-zone at a PP.
We have to turn down the volume on the TV. The TNT people, two guys and one person who’s not a guy, chattering on about everything except for the play-by-play.
I suddenly know why they game after game telling us, who really knows the truth, that Fumbledore is a top notch D-man.
The talking heads on TV misses the subtile things that occure on the ice because they are to buzy laughing at boatloads of internal jokes. Suddenly Fumbledore scores and that proves that he`s a Norris contender year after year.
Now it’s time for the third period.
The third period starts and I`m almost feeling like Pink from the album/movie “The Wall”, I`m discomfortably numb.
One thing that gets my attention is Eichel watching something on an IPAD. He`s not amused! He isn`t looking happy on the ice either.
I understand him. His linemates are Leschychyn and Rondbjerg. Is that the reason the VGK shipped youth and speed to Buffalo for an Cap-Hit crasher with skills unseen at The Fortress.
I couldn`t believe my eyes when the Eichel-line entered the ice. What a waste of talent!
I`m sorry Jake and Jonas you are doing your best every game.
Watching Vegas going on attack is like watching tag-team wrestling. The guy with the puck skates round and round like Tonya harding on speed. He passes the puck to a linemate who`s standing still, then he starts doing the same thing, skate back and forth.
On a good night they`ll find a way to shot and maybe score, often due to a lucky bounce.
I know, a goal is a goal is a goal.
The players doesn`t look happy unless they score a goal. It`s part of the coaches job to make the players feel positive.
Karlsson isn`t “Wild Bill” anymore, Marchy`s stick-account is overdrawn.
Eichel looks lost without Reinhart and Skinner, he should be the backbone of the offense. Sorry, my bad humor has no limits, but when it`s at the worst in life you`ll have to find a way to laugh.
If you think your beloved team The Vegas Golden Knights makes your life as a supporter look like s..t, I`ll recommend you to read the book “Fever Pitch” by Nick Hornby.
It`s about his life as a fan of the English soccerteam Arsenal FC.
If you take all the anger, pain, happiness and the feelings when our team win or lose, and like the author live with it over a span of more than 30 years. That`s tough s…t!
I`m just waiting for the next season.
The owner and the GM has to fix this in the summer, easy isn`t it. No Cap-Hit gambling, please.
Build from the defence.
People use to say “Elvis is in the building”, I`ll say “Fleury is in the building”.
Joe said it first, Thompson plays like a young Fleury. I`ll give him right, as aggressive as Thompson plays and how he spins around after giving up a rebound just as MAF, he might give the Fleury fans a smile on their faces.
I`m allready smiling.
Irene Lemley sent this opinion in on Kolesar
I can’t believe Kolesar thinks he is a fighter! He is not and will never be Reevo! Please someone tell him before he gets hurt!!!!
Irene Lemley also added this comment about Logan Thompson
Reminds me of a young 🌸. Aggressive, darting eyes and agile body moves. Following the pucks every movement! Great future! Unlike others we have he gives body and soul!! 🥰
Irene
Logan in my opinion,has cemented his spot as a valid backup for Robin Lehner and the future of the VGK in the net.
Joe P.
Irene Lemley responded
Joe Pane oh no Joe! We just can’t win with Panda in net! He has lost the ability to follow through on rebounds and can’t move fast enough to kick the puck away! This is not an attached on him it just my observation!
Irene Lemley Not sure Vegas can move him unless they give him away for free like they did with another of their goaltenders…….No names mention you can fill in the blank 🙂
Joe P.
Irene Lemley responded
Joe Pane, I like your way of thinking Joe! 🌸🌸
Bill Dickerson had this to say
Big win, I’m curious about who is in net Friday, with the way the fanbase is with Lehner you put him and lose the problems become worse. But I still think a healthy Lehner is needed to make a run to get in.
Jarret Anderson responded to Bill
Bill Dickerson Lehner always gets blamed whether it’s a 6-5 loss or a 1-0 loss.
Bill Dickerson responded
Jarret Anderson to some yeah, there are some who are the opposite, but a vocal portion would definitely be pissed if it happens. Right or wrong
Keith Westergaard added this to the conversation about goaltenders
Bill Dickerson, I think we absolutely need Lehner for the playoff run, but I feel you have to ride the hot hand for now and would not hurt for Lehner to have just a little more recovery time.
Cindy Ziroll Leslie added this
Great article, but Coach’s name is Pete DeBoer, not DeCoer. You spelled it incorrectly while referring to the challenge by the Coach! 😉 (Looks like you spelled it correctly later in the article.) Oh, and Go Knights! ❤️VGK🏒
Cindy Ziroll Leslie, thank you I will correct that now.
Joe P.
Judy Schneider
Thanks for a good article, Joe. 🧡
Christopher Couch sent this opinion in
I like the way they are playing now. I had the impression before that they were just sitting back and playing like the games didn’t matter and they would try hard when everyone came back and when the playoffs came around.
But now they realize that the playoffs are not guaranteed, they have stopped feeling sorry for themselves and are fighting hard.
Jack Logansmith sent this in
Joe Pane The irony of that is that it is one letter off of DeCœur, or “of the heart”. Telling Vegas fans on social media that that’s how this team is run is a way to get into a serious Internet fight.
Jack not sure of the point you are trying to make here, who said this is how the team is run on social media?
Joe P.