There are games in a player’s career that are defining moments, though 99.9% of the time, the player is on the winning side of this moment that will always be remembered as a highlight of their entire career.
One defining moment that I personally was in attendance for occurred in game 6 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals between my beloved New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils. The Devils thrashed the Rangers in game 5 and all New Jersey had to do to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals was to win one of the next two games against a team that looked like it had given up. Ah, but one Ranger, Mark Messier, scored a hat trick in game 6 to beat NJ, which led for most of the game. Messier’s Rangers went on to win game 7, advance to the finals, and win their first Stanley Cup since 1940.
Last night, with the status of the VGK’s number-one goalie in question, the team looked to their number two, Malcolm Subban, to step up. And step up he did. His performance in last night’s game will be remembered by Subban, his teammates, and every VGK fan who watched the game or will watch in the future. It was an amazing effort that solidified his spot on this team going forward. Yes, we all know that Fleury is the go-to man for Vegas, but just knowing you have a player who can raise his level the way Subban did has to make every player, plus Coach Gallant and GM McPhee, feel so good knowing that their goalie position is solid for many years barring any major injuries.
The situation that put Subban in the nets tonight was all caused by an injury that Marc Andre Fleury suffered Tuesday night against Vancouver. Coach Gallant’s plan was to slowly work Subban back into the lineup, giving him a chance to work out the rust caused by his inactivity due to his second injury this season. He hadn’t played since Feb. 2 when he was rushed into action to finish Tuesday night’s game, faced 25 shots, and gave up only one meaningless goal late in the third period. Gallant had no other choice in a crucial game against the San Jose Sharks, who are breathing down the necks of Vegas, trailing by 8 points with nine games to go.
Subban was the go-to man last night. It didn’t start off well, as he looked shaky on the first shot he faced, but that was the last time anyone worried about his readiness. Saying he was incredible might be an understatement.
San Jose was on a 5-game winning streak and had scored 27 goals in their last 5 games. The last time SJ scored 27 goals in five games was 22 years ago.
Last night, they scored only one goal in 60 minutes as Subban appeared to have a huge S on his chest similar to Superman’s; he blocked shot after shot saving 42 of the 43 he faced in regulation. The only goal he did surrender in the first 60 minutes was one in which his teammates had at least three valid attempts to clear the puck out of their zone, which would have allowed a line change and some fresh legs. The relentless fore-check by San Jose prevented that. Brent Burns’ slap shot from the point eluded Subban, who appeared to be screened. It was Burns’ first goal in 16 games.
Vegas opened the scoring and dominated play after SJ had Vegas on their heels for the first two minutes of the game. Vegas dominated the remainder of the period and led 1-0 after 20 minutes.
Tomas Tatar, whom I had mentioned has seemed more comfortable with Karlsson and Marchessault, scored after having gone goal-less in 10 games prior to his goal against Vancouver on Tuesday night. His goal is a good sign, as the need to roll 4 lines that click together is important in the playoffs. Opposing teams won’t have the resources to shut every line down. They’ll have to decide which line deserves the attention of their checking line.
On Tatar’s goal, Shea Theodore slid the puck across the point to Marchessault who was uncharacteristically high in the zone and with Tatar along the far wall, Jonathan waited until Tatar found a seam between both SJ defensemen and threaded a perfect pass to Tomas, who skated across the front of the net and put a backhander past Martin Jones, the Sharks goaltender, at the 3:47 mark of the first period. That was Vegas’ only goal.
The Knights were their own worst enemy, allowing San Jose six power plays. One lasted four minutes and another created a 5-on-3 advantage for 25 seconds. Spending this much time killing penalties disrupts the flow of the lines and creates momentum for the other team. San Jose had five consecutive power plays. Vegas is the second least penalized team in the league, but you wouldn’t know that looking at the game’s box score. Subban faced 13 shots on the power plays. San Jose took complete control of the game in the second period and if it hadn’t been for Subban, this game would’ve been finished early. The first 12 minutes of the second period had Vegas being outshot 13-1.
Vegas has had the best power play in the league over the last 28 games. They could have used one tonight, but they went 0-2. San Jose has been perfect on the penalty kill in 11 of the last 12 games and they came up big, shutting down the Vegas power play.
The only bright spot to this loss, if there is one, is that the game went to overtime, allowing the potential 4-point conference game to become a one-point game. San Jose still trails Vegas by 7 points.
The OT period didn’t last long. It was almost over in the first 20 seconds, as Vegas had two glorious scoring chances, only to be denied by Jones. Then, on SJ’s only rush into Vegas’ zone, Logan Couture took a pass and skated east to west across the front of the net and lifted a backhand past Subban.
It was just not right for the game to end like it did. Subban played his heart out. He was the best player on the ice, but San Jose was the better team.
The VGK’s next game is on the road and will conclude this two-game road trip Saturday at noon Pacific Time vs. Colorado.
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