When you think of knights, you might get an image of men in shining armor who have nerves of steel and the hearts of lions. These knights when called upon are ready to battle any threat to their castle, king, or empire.
These same traits were present for the first nine games of Las Vegas Golden Knights as they defeated every team they faced—except for a third-period collapse against the Detroit Red Wings. In that game, it was later discovered that Marc André Fleury, the Knights’ number-one goalie, was injured in the third-period, but remained in the game. Could this have been the reason the third-period onslaught took place? We’ll never know.
What we do know is that the VGK are now on their fourth goaltender in just 10 games: Oscar Dansk went down with a leg injury late in the second period last night, as the VGK fell to the NY Islanders 6-3. The final score wasn’t a true representation of the game, which, was not only entertaining, but extremely competitive and dominated by special team play in the first 35 minutes. The complexion of the game changed as soon as Dansk was injured.
One other team has used resorted to four goaltenders in its opening 10 games: the Arizona Coyotes. But they have a good reason to be playing the goalie merry-go-round. They hadn’t won a game until last night, but not before they blew a 3-0 lead to the Flyers, only to salvage the win in overtime. The Coyotes are still in clear and present danger and will be for a while.
In their entire system, the VGK have only five goaltenders signed to a contract. Established teams have had years, if not decades, to build their organizations and develop players beneath NHL level. The VGK have not had that luxury; hell, prior to June, they didn’t have a single player under contract or in a development status in the team’s system.
I mentioned in my last blog that this road trip would be a test for the team, but I didn’t know how correct I’d be. The VGK now have a major problem. The last goaltender under contract is Dylan Ferguson, 19 years old with a record of 4-9-0, a 4.05 GAA, and an .878 save percentage with Kamloops of the Western Hockey League. These aren’t outstanding numbers. At the tender age of 19 Throwing a goalie at the tender age of 19 into the lion’s pit of the NHL could be devastating for his future. Even the strongest prospects, when first drafted and signed in the NHL, very rarely see time with the big club. They’re slowly brought along and developed. But the VGK don’t have that luxury right now, as the top three goaltenders in their system are in hospital gowns.
Hockey, like baseball and football, is a team sport, though all three have key positions that make a huge difference to a team’s overall success. In baseball it’s the pitcher, in football it’s the quarterback, and in hockey it’s the goaltender.
Neither Fleury (#1) nor Subban (#2) are close to returning to the lineup and now with Dansk (#3) injured, the VGK are burdened with playing the fourth goaltender, Maxime Lagace, who last night gave up four goals on 11 shots, which pretty much sealed the fate of last night’s game. It’s to be noted that in the VGK’s only two losses, the final score was an identical 6-3 and starting goaltender was injured.
VGK fans, if the team returns to Las Vegas winning just three of the remaining five games, it will be a huge success and a great confidence builder for the long season ahead.
The famous saying “next man up” is clearly apropos for the VGK right now. Good teams rise to the occasion.
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