The night that was expected to be the barometer on how this series would play out went as badly as it could have for the Golden Knights.
This was especially true in the first seven minutes of the first period, in which Vegas surrender the same number of goals they allowed in the entire L.A. Kings series: three. At the 7:35 mark, the score was already 3-0.
Once again, a goalie interference decision needed to be resolved and once again, Vegas was on the wrong side of the call and the wrong side of the final score, losing Game 1 of the Western Conference championship series by a score of 4-2.
On the very first shift of the game, Jonathan Marchessault entered the Winnipeg zone with the puck and had three options. He could have dished the puck off to James Neal, open on his right and heading toward the net with a lot of speed; shoot the puck; or to try to force a pass past two Jet defenders to Eric Haula on his left. He chose the latter, probably the least favorable decision and the first of VGK 11 giveaways. To make matters worse, this particular giveaway led to a quick transition from defense to offense for Winnipeg. Rather than back-check on his giveaway, Marchessault went to the bench for a line change, allowing the Jets more open ice. Dustin Byfuglien, who was a force the entire game, took a drop pass and when his slap shot evaded Fleury just 65 seconds into the game, the Jets were off and running.
Of Vegas’ 11 giveaways, nine were from their defensemen, which magnified the fore-check with which Winnipeg was so successful in limiting the VGK speed and offense.
The first goal got the already pumped crowd into the game and the home team fed off the emotion. Just 5:44 later, Patrik Laine scored the first of the two power-play goals that put Vegas in the unfamiliar position of chasing the game. The first Vegas penalty, called on Alex Tuch for hooking, it was questionable, as it appeared his stick was being held as he attempted to enter Winnipeg’s zone; it became a costly penalty when Laine scored. This put Vegas behind 2-0, but it was not insurmountable with almost 54 minutes still to be played.
On Winnipeg’s third goal, Joel Armia skated through the blue paint and bumped into Fleury just as he was prepared to accept a blind behind-the-back pass from Ben Chiarot, a defenseman deep in the offensive zone to the left of Fleury. Ben’s blind pass hit Armia’s skate and slithered into the net. It was instantaneous waved off as no goal by the referee, who was only 10 feet away. At first it seemed like it might have been waived off for entering the net with a kicking motion. When the replay was shown, it was clear that there was no distinct kicking motion and the goal was waived off for goalie interference. Fleury’s position was without a doubt impeded by Armia. So it appeared the score would still be a manageable 2-0 lead with almost 54 minutes still to be played and not the dreaded three-goal lead. Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice challenged the interference ruling.
Like every other goalie interference call so far these playoffs the call went against Vegas and the 3-0 lead was now a problem.
Vegas did seem to regroup with the challenge delay. Coach Gallant settled down his team — caught flatfooted by the Jets and the emotion of the crowd.
Vegas seem unprepared for Winnipeg’s explosive speed and scoring capabilities. The Knights were the slower team, especially for most of the first period. That could rarely be said about Vegas throughout the season and their first 10 playoff games. They’ve won battles for loose pucks and neutralized the opposing teams fore-check with quick breakout passes and stretch passes. Last night, Vegas seemed to have trouble getting through the neutral zone. The Jets had a choke hold on the offensive side of Vegas game, limiting them to just 21 shots for the entire game.
Twenty-one shots in a game against an offensive juggernaut like Winnipeg is a recipe for disaster. It was the lowest shot total of all playoff games so far. In the L.A. Kings series, consisting of four hard-fought defensive games, Vegas had 21 shots in their 1-0 Game 4 series clinching game, 26 shots in Game 3, and 28 shots on Jonathan Quick in their win in Game 1.
You can survive with a low shot total against a team like the Kings, who want to play 1-0 and 2-1 games. With the Jets, that style will not work. Other than Reilly Smith’s five shots on goal, William Karlsson had two and only five other forwards had just one shot on goal. Hellebuyck is a good goalie, but you make him seem unbeatable when you can’t even register more than eight shots in the third period that you entered trailing by two goals. Vegas had only six shots on goal in the first and seven in the second.
It also seemed like Winnipeg’s forwards revealed the lack of speed among the VGK defensemen with only eight hits registered by the six defenseman for the entire game. Winnipeg’s forwards cannot be given this much time and space in the offensive zone. Fleury is great, but he needs a little help.
Vegas did seem to adjust their game in the second and third periods, but spotting a team three goals is usually too big of a hole to climb out of.
In their first two rounds, not one opposing player dominated any of the games, alloweing Vegas to win eight of the ten games played. That changed as Dustin Byfuglien was a dominant player, scoring one goal, assisting on another, having three shots on goal and two blocked shots, and playing 27 shifts with just shy of 25 minutes of ice time in a 60-minute game. This will have to change in order to defeat the Jets.
In the first round, Drew Doughty of the L.A. Kings was held without a point in the three games he played. In Round 2, Brent Burns of San Jose wasn’t a factor in any of the games.
Having watched this team all year, I can safely assume that Coach Gallant will make a change or two in the lineup. It seems to have worked in the first two rounds to get their attention, as Gallant only asks his players for an honest work ethic. Last night, a few of the 20 didn’t hold up their end of the agreement.
Their goal when they left for Winnipeg was to win one of the first two road games and Monday night they still can accomplish that. Coming back to T-Mobile with the series tied 1-1 will be huge for this team. But remember, you’re never really in trouble in a playoff series until you lose a game on home ice. Monday’s game is more of a must win for the Jets than Vegas. Because we know how the crowd at T-Mobile just energizes this team.
Winnipeg led the league in first-period goals during the season with 92 and leads all playoff teams with 14 first-period playoff goals.
Dustin Byfuglien has 17 points so far in the playoffs. The entire defensive core of VGK have 15 points total among them all.
Goal scorers for VGK: McNabb (2), Karlsson (5) PPG
Game 2 Monday in Winnipeg is at 5 p.m. Pacific Time.
Game 3 is Wednesday at T-Mobile at 6 p.m. Pacific Time.
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