This was the kind of game that a coach would just prefer to “burn the tape,” meaning not even have the chance of reviewing; nothing that Coach Gallant could even try to do or say would sugarcoat or somehow, some way, pull something positive out of it for his team to learn from.
The only possible positive that emerged from this game is that the VGK’s fifth-string goaltender, Dylan Ferguson, who is on loan to Vegas from Kamloops of the WHL, finally got to experience playing in the NHL as a 19-year-old. Very few players of his age ever see the ice surface in a regular-season game. But because Max Lagace gave up 7 goals on just 29 shots, Dylan got the call from the bench. Dylan gave up only one goal, though the Edmonton Oilers might have dialed it back a bit, already having put 7 in.
The VGK Penalty kill was missing in action as they gave up 3 power-play goals in three chances. They even surrendered a short-handed goal.
Before they even knew it, they were behind 3-0.
As of late, the opening periods on the road for the VGK have been stinkers and have put the team in a bad situation of having to chase a game. When you’re chasing a game deficit, such as last night’s three-goal lead in the first period, you burn up a lot of energy. This creates more odd-man rushes back into your defensive zone, which will cost most teams. Edmonton is a very talented team and one of the favorites to make it to the Conference Finals. They’ll make you pay and tonight they sure did.
VGK got off to a great start on the road in their first two games, but since then, they’ve struggled. Tonight’s game, however, may be the first one of the entire season in which they never had a chance.
Since opening the season with two straight wins on the road, Vegas has gone 1-5-1 away from home. This is in contrast to 7-1-0 at home.
You must win on the road if you have any chance of even thinking about the playoffs. Granted, before they played their first game this year, we all knew that the VGK making the playoffs in their first year was a long shot. But with their incredible start, we all took a step back and said well maybe they can.
Six different Oilers scored tonight, with both Conner Mcdavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scoring two each.
In a pre-game presser, Coach Gallant was asked if he did anything different in preparing for Conner Mcdavid and he said no. He might want to reconsider that pre-game strategy the next time.
Both Mcdavid and Hopkins are first-round picks from previous drafts. First-rounders who perform well are a key to a team’s long-term success. The VGK have a few in their inventory and I’m sure that come the trading deadline, when teams who believe they may be one or two players from winning a Stanley Cup, will be knocking on the door of GM George McPhee, looking to get a player like James Neal or Jonathan Marchessault to complete their run toward the Stanley Cup.
This is not George’s first rodeo and he knows that anything less than a first-round pick coming back will be the price these teams will have to pay for players like Neal and Marchessault.
The VGK remain in western Canada for one more road game vs. Vancouver on Thursday night. If they just burn the tape on last night’s game and get back to playing in the style that has made them competitive in just about every other game, they can salvage this road trip with a win in Vancouver.
Getting off to a good start in the first period will be a key to winning Thursday night.
Both James Neal and Pierre- Edouard Bellemare were the two goal scores for the VGK.
An Interesting tidbit: Since my true love the NY Rangers played my new love the Vegas Golden Knights on October 31, the Rangers have won six games in a row. Who says an open relationship doesn’t work?
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