The VGK were coming off an emotional game in Pittsburgh, then flying 2,500 miles across the country after sitting on the team plane for over 2-1/2 hours on the tarmac because of a snowstorm delay. And they burned up so much fuel during the delayed takeoff that they had to stop to refuel in Ohio. One would expect a tired team showing up in San Jose for last night’s game.
Thus, when the first period was underway, it was no surprise that the Knights not only looked a step behind the Sharks, but they didn’t even register their first shot on goal until 14 minutes in, after San Jose already had 12 shots on Fleury. When the first period ended, San Jose had 16 shots on net and 26 attempts at Fleury.
Truth be told, Fleury was the only reason the Shark’s didn’t blow the game wide open. He was amazing, especially in the first period, in keeping 15 of the 16 shots he faced out of the net. And when Erik Haula scored with six minutes left in the first period to tie up the game, it was only the second shot that Sharks goaltender Martin Jones had faced.
Erik’s shot was off a rebound from David Perron, whose own shot was the first of the game by Vegas; it allowed the VGK to escape from a disaster of a first period tied at 1-1. It made all the difference in a game worth four points and with a San Jose win, the Sharks would trail Vegas by only eight. But with the 5-3 VGK win, they now lead San Jose by 12, the largest division lead in the entire NHL.
The VGK’s amazing record of 13-1-1 in the Pacific Division accounts for this 12-point lead. In addition, they’re 23-7-1 overall in the Western Conference, giving them a lead of three points in the entire conference.
Once again, the Vegas power played scored a goal in five attempts; since Dec. 8, they’ve had the number-one-ranked power-play unit in the league. Once an Achilles heel for the team, the PP is now ranked fifth overall in the league, having scored a goal in nine straight games.
Fleury, the savior for the Knights in the first period, was coming off an emotional game and could have easily had an off night in this game. No one would have blamed him. Tonight’s win by Fleury was his 16th in 23 starts this season so far. He stopped 35 of the 38 shots he faced.
The VGK penalty-kill, which has been very good, did surrender two PP goals tonight in four San Jose attempts.
This six-game road trip was a huge success, with four wins, especially when you consider the teams they faced, and the back-to-back games, and the thousands of miles they traveled.
Their record of 36-14-4 and 76 points has them as the number-two team in the NHL. We’re nine days into February, they’ve played 54 games of an 82-game season, and the stunning VGK steamroller looks almost unstoppable.
Goal scorers for the VGK tonight: Haula (21), Karlsson (29), Neal (24), Marchessault (20) PPG + 1 assist, McNabb (3).
David Perron, Reilly Smith, and Colin Miller all had two assists each and 11 different VGK players had points in this game for a complete team effort.
The VGK’s next game is their first at home after the road trip, Sunday vs. the Philadelphia Flyers at T-Mobile at 5 p.m.
Never miss another post