The Golden Knights haven’t scored a goal in the last 8 days. In hockey time, that’s 139 minutes and 46 seconds. Reilly Smith scored their last goal 14 seconds into the 3rd period against Edmonton on February 8 in their 4-0 win. Since then, the VGK have been shut out in 2 consecutive games for the first time in franchise history.
Jack Eichel was playing in his first game for the VGK, but even he was unable to break this scoring drought. You can blame Darcy Kuemper for that; he was the whole story last night when it was supposed to be Jack Eichel’s Vegas debut. It was Darcy’s second shutout in a row, just like the VGK’s.
The crowd at T-Mobile was prepared for the coronation of Jack last night and truth be told, they may have been expecting more than he reasonably could deliver in the first game he’s played for almost a year (March 7, 2021). He arrived in Las Vegas with the expectation, according to many, that he would be the missing link to the Stanley Cup. Thirty-two teams dream of making that climb, though 25 of the 32 can dream all they want, but they’re simply not deep enough to reach the peak. The VGK are one of the other seven — and last night the other team at T-Mobile was another that has a legitimate chance to wind up on the top of Mount Stanley.
It was a classic game, to say the least, a playoff game in February. Two teams that were averaging 7.292 goals per game were scoreless after 2 periods. Laurent Brossoit, filling in for the injured Robin Lehner, had a whale of a game, blanking the high-flying Avs through 40 minutes. The only problem was Darcy Kuemper was better at the other end of the ice last night. Ultimately, Brossoit stopped 23 of the 25 shots he faced, but Kuemper was perfect on all 29 shots Vegas directed his way. Brossoit was in the net when Vegas shut out the Edmonton Oilers, so we had 2 goaltenders coming into the game last night riding a shutout streak.
Eichel as expected had a lot of jump in his legs last night, as he was riding the emotion of the evening and the electricity at T-Mobile. The fans haven’t had a lot to galvanize themselves with this season, which has been marred by a continuous string of injuries. So they were naturally hoping Jack would be the catalyst that would jump-start the VGK, especially at T-Mobile. But Jack’s night didn’t make an impact on the score sheet, unless you want to count his 2 penalties and his -1 for the game.
You can see that he’s a powerful skater and is always creating opportunities, which will be beneficial for the VGK once he gets into game shape. Remember, he’s playing with teammates in mid-season playing condition and they were up against one of the hottest teams in the league. He also was matched up against the top line of the Avs, which is not the best way to make your NHL comeback.
This 2-game losing streak, combined with the Calgary Flames not losing a game since Jan. 29, winning 8 games in a row, has the VGK in second place in the division, 3 points under the Flames, who have 2 games in hand. The Edmonton Oilers, who seem to have put the wheels back on their bus since replacing their head coach, are only 4 points behind Vegas with 2 games in hand. Vegas is in jeopardy of going from first place in the Pacific to battling for a wild card spot if they continue this scoring drought.
Nolan Patrick, who has a history of concussions took a direct hit to his head last night by Nathan MacKinnon; MacKinnon was issued just a 2-minute penalty for a dirty hit. The lack of toughness on the team was on full display last night as Vegas could muster only a verbal attack on MacKinnon. If the situation were reversed, a VGK player would have to answer for that hit. I’m sure that the NHL will have something to say about this hit. A few weeks back when MacKinnon was knocked out of the game on a clean hit, the opposing player was challenged to a fight by their captain Landeskog. Last night, Vegas’ response to this hit was, in my opinion, pathetic.
Other game notes and quotes.
“I don’t think you want to take two penalties and be on the ice for their goal,” Eichel said. “But I think there was some stuff to build on. Obviously, they’re a really good team. You get matched up against a pretty good line for part of the game. So first game in 11 months, it’s good to just get back doing it.”
“[Brossoit] played really well,” Alex Pietrangelo said. “Made saves when we needed them. I liked his battle effort, especially in the second period.”
To make matters worse, even after MacKinnon’s dirty hit on Patrick, he checked Nicolas Roy’s “family jewels” with his stick. Someone was having a bad day.
Pete DeBoer, rarely forthcoming on injuries, was candid about Nolan Patrick after the game, offering a dim outlook on Patrick.
My 3 Stars of the Game: Darcy Kuemper (29 saves on 29 shots and back-to-back shutouts), Cale Makar (who assisted on both Colorado goals), Laurent Brossoit (who was really good especially against one of the best teams in the league)
My Asshole of the Game: Nathan MacKinnon
Next game is Friday vs. L.A. Kings at T-Mobile p.m.
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.
Landeskog with the Game Winning Goal
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Richard Santomauro sent this comment in
Thanks, I was wondering when this juggernaut of offense scored its last goal. No worries, it is just a slump. No worries, Eichel is here. What actually has happened is that the VGK management has taken an exciting team that could tip the ice and turned it into an older sluggish club that plays (or tries to) “traditional” hockey. Year 1 and 2, under Gallant it was full court press for 60 minutes. Under DeBoering the VGK plays it “safe” through the first 30-to-40-minute s hoping to take a lead into the 3rd period. It’s a recipe for failure. I for one am pretty sick and tired of watching DeBoer standing there with a dumb look on his face as this team regresses. Too many faces, too fast, no team chemistry (yeah injuries have a bit to do with that). Another problem will present itself when #19 becomes an UFA next year and we lose him and get nothing for him. Lehner? He’s never found a home during his career for a reason and the holes in his game are well known. He’s a great backup, but not for $5mil. I predicted VGK would be 3rd in the Pacific this year and that is looking iffy with the Kings and Ducks sniping at their heels. They may make the playoffs but watching the performance this year tells me that they will be a 1st or at best 2nd round exit. As a season ticket holder, it pains me to see Gallant taking a Rangers team to new heights, but I am happy for him and Reaves. Okay, end cup half empty rant. Cup half full? Well, Eichel looked great out there and the team is stacked with talent! But that talent has zero chemistry and no identity. VGK also has some great prospects in Henderson. The future still can be saved. The problem isn’t with the players on the ice. The problem is with the FO and Coaching. That’ the way I see it.
Richard Santomauro there is something that just doesn’t make sense with this team some nights they look like they can beat any team they face and on other nights they can’t get out of their way. Gallant coaching style is 180 degrees for PDB. I guess it’s all in the eye of the beholder which you prefer.
Joe P.
Marie Archuletta-Nabit had this to say
Let’s talk about Jack Eichel first of all you got a cut this kid some slack he hasn’t played on the ice for 18 months he recently had surgery, and this is his first game of course there’s no chemistry he’s just finding his way you got to give that time and give him a chance also the team he came from treated him like crap kind a like the way VGK organization treated MAF! If you can remember when Max Pacioretty first came, he had a slow start! Eichel is not the savior of the team he’s a good player and hopefully he will start to produce and find his rhythm! Brossoit played excellent he should be a starter Goalie always; I am not a fan of Lehner!
I think the team in last night’s game came out playing excellent in the 1st, The second you could see them starting to lag, by the 3rd you could see the frustration!
What’s hard for me to watch is that they are so hot and cold from one game to the next, there is something missing I don’t know what you wanna call it, but they need to find their mojo🥴
Richard Santomauro sent this comment in
The team chemistry/identity and inability to score issues has nothing to do with Eichel. This has been the problem ever since McCrimmon and DeBoer took over this team. Eichel will be good, no doubt. The team is stacked with talent, but the CAP is going to be tough to manage this year and next.
Marie Archuletta-Nabit replying to Richard
Richard Santomauro I never said anything about Eichel And the team chemistry I said hopefully he will find his rhythm and start to produce we just need to give him a chance! And yes, I can agree with you on most of what you said👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼😍
Richard Santomauro replied
Marie Archuletta-Nabit I was not in favor of this trade, but now that he is here, I am a fan. It remains to be seen whether or not he can produce a point per game as he has in his career. I definitely could see the difference. He is fast smooth and has great hockey sense. He is an upgrade for sure. I am just not sure that $10 million in Cap was worth it. The jury is out, but last night’s game and the regression of this team has nothing to do with Eichel at all.
Marie Archuletta-Nabit replied to Richard
Richard Santomauro The only reason that I brought up Eichel’s name is because I was responding to Joe’s post and commentary everybody expects Eichel to be The savior of the team he’s not but he is a very talented player , and even with the surgery he had it may just take one big hit from another player to do damage again I’m just saying we need to give him a chance to mesh with the team and the team needs to get on track and start winning 🥰
Mark Durant wrote this in reply to Marie
Marie Archuletta-Nabit Trying to figure out where you got 18 months from — his last game was March 7, 2021, less than a year ago. He’s been practicing with the team for a month and kept in shape while rehabbing. He’s off with his timing, but he still has most — if not all — of the speed he has since his rookie season in Buffalo. He still hasn’t broken his habit of taking stupid penalties, though, and I don’t expect him to have much impact defensively (if any). He’s always been a pure offensive player.
Richard Santomauro replied
Mark Durant Dumb penalties, seems to be something he has in common with Petro.
Marie Archuletta-Nabit wrote
Mark Durant okay maybe I’m wrong about the 18 months that’s what I had read that it had been 18 months because the injury was there and he kept playing with it on and off, no big deal, stop nitpicking over little stuff! Lol
Mark Durant
Marie Archuletta-Nabit missing 11 months as opposed to 18 months isn’t ‘nitpicking’ — that would be an entire season. That’s a long time for a hockey player, or any athlete coming into their prime.
Johnny Lawless wrote
I was bummed that Keegan Kolesar was out of the lineup for the first time this year. Played 48 games straight. And being out had nothing to do with injury. I know it isn’t fashionable to like him, but he’s been a workhorse for us.
Johnny Lawless also added this opinion
I also think it was a mistake to start Eichel against Colorado. That was too intense of a game for a return. Seems like it could have waited until the San Jose and Arizona games for a smoother transition.
Eddie Phillips responded to Johnny
Johnny Lawless throw him into the frying pan. He looked good against the best line in the NHL.
Johnny Lawless responded back
Eddie Phillips I’m not sure there is a positive stat that came out of that for him. Did he have one shot? And the Colorado line playing against them had 12 or 14? I’m certain he’ll get more comfortable but that was a dangerous game to come back in.
Eddie Phillips contributed more to the conversation
Johnny Lawless he had one shot on net. 3 were blocked. But if you want to compare stats from both #1 lines….Pacioretty had 2 shots, Dodonovo had 3, Eichel had 1. 6 total.
Landeskog had 4, MacKinnon 4, and Rantanen 3. All 3 of whom had 2 more min of PP time each.
The shot spread isn’t as drastic as you make it out to be. And again, these are professional athletes, no one game is more ‘dangerous’ than any other. That’s like saying we shouldn’t let him play against the capitals because of Tom Wilson. Eichel had been taking full contact in practice and isn’t a little guy. He’s ready.
Anthony Soro joined in the conversation with this
yep shutout 2 games straight.
Anthony Soro with the amount of talent especially scoring wise being shutout 2 games in a row is a head scratcher
Joe P.
Anthony Soro replied back
Joe Pane something is wrong that’s for sure, last time they got in this spot the coach was fired.
Douglas Carle wrote this.
This is simply about coaching. We dumped Gallant for the guy we have now (someone who has never won anywhere else and was fired from his previous job) he has turned an exciting high-octane offense into a bunch of plow horses. He simply has to go.
Douglas Carle truth be told all coaches in the NHL get fired and then they are recycled with another team. New blood behind the bench is rare in the NHL
Joe P.
Brian Mishefske had this comment
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to visually see this game, love the article, Joe. It just seems we get our chances, but our luck just is not there. Most will probably want to fire the whole staff and Lehner but it’s so hard in the NHL to find balance in the salary cap era. Plenty of time to get the offense going and the Gm needs to figure out if we are trading. We shall see! Go Knights and have a great day brother
Christopher Couch wrote this
I’m really at a loss for why Vegas has not performed this season with arguably a better line up than in years past. The goalie play hasn’t been good, and they haven’t been healthy but, the performances on the ice lead me to believe there is a different issue? What are your thoughts on the coaching? Could that be the issue? Should we look for a new coach?
Christopher Couch replied back to me
Joe Pane it’s very discouraging to see such a talented team being wasted.
Nick Steffen
I think you are right about MacKinnon. One of the Knights should’ve stepped up and done something about him.
Joe Pane
Nick Steffen 100% when I played that would never go unpunished
Linda Ganz had this opinion of what’s going on with the VGK
Maybe mngmt will finally face the beast issue…goaltending. I don’t understand coach decision in switching up line 1, 2, 3 which lead to confusion and inconsistency. Nathan McKinnon seems to get special treatment in this league just like McDavid. That hit was dirty.
Linda Ganz very dirty and the stick jab on Roy was uncalled for.
Joe P.