Thursday night’s game versus the Boston Bruins was the kind the VGK must continue to play if they want to be successful. Sometimes losing a game like this can restore a team’s confidence. You see, they finally played 60 full minutes of hockey. In their previous two games against the NY Islanders and NY Rangers, they may played probably 35 minutes per game and gave up 12 goals. Two nights ago, they gave up only two.
In addition, there was no parade of players to the penalty box as in their two previous games in New York. When you’re working with your fourth-string goaltender, you simply can’t put him under that kind of pressure and expect him to save your bacon.
A team is only as good as its goaltender and a goaltender is only as good as the players in front of him can limit the other team’s offense.
On Thursday night, the VGK played a sound defensive game. As such, there was no scoring in the first period, with only 13 shots total. Indeed, the VGK didn’t register their first shot of the game until 9 minutes and 36 seconds had been played. The VGK eventually wound up outshooting Boston 8 to 5 in the first period, with four quality scoring chances versus three for the Bruins.
The second period was much more energetic, somewhat to be expected from a team playing three road games in four days that needs the first period to get the competitive juices flowing. The second period ended with 20 shots each making it to the goaltender; both teams also had a number of blocked shots—a great way to support your rookie goalie.
Max Lagace has looked outstanding in his last two outings. As I explained in my previous blog, the loss to the NY Rangers wasn’t his fault. On Thursday, the VGK showed the effort needed to give their goaltender and team at least a chance to win a game, even one played on the road.
Nate Schmidt, Shea Theodore, and Jon Merrill had less than stellar performances against the NY Rangers and to no one’s surprise, Theodore and Merrill were scratched from the lineup. The coaching staff made some adjustments in response to the mental breakdowns that occurred in New York. On the VGK’s first and only goal, Schmidt stripped the puck from a Boston player and skated laterally to his left, drawing four of Bruins toward him; this left Cody Eakin unattended on the right about 20 feet out from the net and to the goaltenders left. He wasted no time in one-timing Schmidt’s cross-ice pass past Rask, which tied the game at 1-1.
The second period ended with the score tied, the VGK having played the entire 40 minutes and kept the crowd out of the game.
In the third period, Lagace seemed comfortable as he was finally getting the support he needed. He made an outstanding save against Patrice Bergeron, who seemed to have an open net until Max slid across to rob him of a sure goal.
On the two goals that Boston scored to defeat the VGK, neither could be blamed on Max. On the first goal, the VGK defense overcommitted to an initial shot that rang off the post, bounced out to the goaltenders right, and became an easy tap-in.
On the game-winner, the always-reliable Deryk Engelland made a play that should never be made, but especially in a 1-1 game late in the last period: throwing the puck laterally as you’re leaving your defensive zone and entering the neutral zone should only be made when you’re 100% sure you can complete the pass to your breaking forward. If it’s picked off, you’re not only flat-footed, but the player picking off your pass is speeding in the opposite direction you are. And that’s exactly what happened. Even though the initial shot was once again saved by Lagace, the rebound lay in the crease and was eventually pushed into the back of the net for the deciding goal.
VGK played noticeably better in Boston than New York, but still fell short in a game they could have easily won. A lucky bounce and an uncharacteristic mistake by Engelland sealed their fate. The hopes of winning three out of six road games now requires them to win all three of the games left on this trip.
Las Vegas is known for creating dreams and miracles and this is what the VGK will need to go 3-3 on the east coast. Ottawa is next up in a Saturday afternoon game that will make it a morning game here in Las Vegas. Plug in the coffee maker and butter the toast and let’s hope the VGK can get their first win on the road trip to end its three-game losing streak.
Never miss another post
There was another shot that Nosek could have knocked in as luckily as the one that bounced in for Boston. That one could have gone either way. Exciting game and nice to see them working better together. Keep up the good commentary on our VGK!