Yes, just 22 seconds into overtime, Jonathan Marchessault scored his second goal of the game, propelling the VGK to a victory over the St. Louis Blues 4-3 last night at T-Mobile. With the OT winner, Marchessault extended his points streak with his 5th goal and 5 assists in the last 7 games. The VGK top line continues to shine, with William Karlsson also registering 3 points last night on his third shorthanded goal of the season, along with 2 assists. It was Karlsson’s 41st goal of the season; he’s only 4 goals behind the Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin who leads the NHL. Just that thought alone is amazing for Karlsson, but his play away from the puck makes him an even more valuable addition to this group of castoffs whom the other 30 NHL teams thought they could live without.
With last night’s win, Vegas improved their record to 49-22-7 for 105 points. Last night’s win was also the 28th win at T-Mobile for Vegas. Only one other team has more wins at home than Vegas, the Winnipeg Jets, with 30. The VGK needs one more point to lock up the Pacific Division; second-place San Jose has 98 points with 4 games remaining. Even if San Jose wins all of the remaining games, they’d wind up with 106 points. Vegas needs to earn one point in any of the last 4 games to achieve 106. Vegas owns the tiebreaker.
The San Jose Sharks come to T-Mobile for Vegas’ last home game of the season. What a fitting way it will be for your Knights to win the Pacific Division in front of their home crowd on the last home game of the season. This entire season has been one high after another, one NHL record broken after another, so it’s only fitting that this accomplishment happens in front of a city that has embraced this team and in return the team has lifted the spirits of this city beyond anyone’s imagination. Making the playoffs in their first season was just a dream. Even the optimistic owner Bill Foley said playoffs in three years, Stanley Cup in six. Well, how about playoffs and Pacific Division Champs in their first year? Who knows where this amazing ride will take us? But buckle up; they’re not done yet.
Jonathan Marchessault had this to say about the chance to capture the Pacific Title tonight at T-Mobile. “It would be great for our fans. They’ve been awesome all year. To get the win and clinch the Pacific would be awesome. Whomever we face, I just think we need to play. Tomorrow’s going to be a good game.”
Malcolm Subban was in nets last night, giving Marc Andre Fleury a much-needed rest and it appears that this will mean Fleury will play tonight.
James Neal, who has been injured and just recently returned to the lineup, has seemed to find his legs and timing over the last 3 games. Neal’s goal last night was his first in 13 games and his first since Feb. 8. It was his 25th of the season. Neal has scored at least 25 or more goals in 5 of his 10 NHL seasons.
Post-game, Neal said, “I think sometimes, when you go into slumps coming back from injury, you just want to get your legs under you. When you’re not getting chances or looks, you’ve got to do something different. I felt the past three games, I was getting better looks, better shots. I felt like I was going to get something.”
VGK goal scorers: Marchessault (26-27) game winner in OT, Karlsson (41) shortanded goal, Neal 25.
Today’s game, which is at T-Mobile vs. San Jose at 7:30 p.m., may be the hottest ticket in Vegas. History has a chance to be made tonight. If you’re lucky enough to be there, good for you. If not, the game will be on ATT Sports Net for you to watch or at least DVR to watch after your Saturday night plans.
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