Their first 20 games this season were without Nate Schmidt.
Number 88 didn’t contribute to the offensive outburst or register a point in last night’s game in Edmonton. Eight other VGK players did in their 6-3 victory against the Oilers. But Schmidt’s presence was noticed on the ice, on the bench, and in the locker room. He seems to inspire his teammates. He was back in mid-season form with his rushes up the ice, quickly and safely moving the puck out of their defensive zone, which has been a problem in many of their first 20 games.
Nate is just what this team has been missing. It’s almost like the entire team was serving Nate’s 20-game suspension with him, at least it appeared they were mentally. They had no focus, no consistency, from one game to another.
The coaching staff took the bull by the horns and put Schmidt and Theodore together as a unit, which wasn’t done much last season. Both of these players can skate like the wind and head-man the puck out of their zone. The safe approach is one offensive defenseman paired with a reliable defensive partner who stays back and doesn’t join the rush into the offensive zone. Last season that was the job of Engelland and McNabb, the stay-at-home defenseman, while Theodore and Schmidt could and would join in on the rush. This could have been a gamble, but in the first 20 games, Coach Gallant saw the team’s lack of moving the puck up ice quickly, often turning it over in their defensive zone, leaving it up to Fleury to make a save or two.
Call it a coincidence, but from the beginning of the game, the line of Marchessault, Karlsson, and Reilly seemed energized, skating with focus and determination. Nate can have that effect and it sure seems like this line liked having Nate back in the lineup.
The first Edmonton goal was scored just 52 seconds into the game by Connor McDavid, who seems to score a lot when he’s playing against the VGK. McDavid had 8 points last season vs. Vegas with 2 goals and 6 assists in just four games and his goal just 52 seconds in made it 9 points in just five games.
This quick goal by Edmonton appeared to be the beginning of another night of potential disappointment, but Schmidt was there, not only boosting the defense, but also morale, yapping to his teammates even before the opening faceoff, which hadn’t been seen on the VGK bench at all prior to last night.
The #1 line for the most part was MIA in the first 20 games, except for Marchessault who comes to play every night and is one of the leaders of this team. But it came to life with both Karlsson and Smith scoring goals and Marchessault scoring two. The entire line accounted for 8 points: 4 goals, including one on the power-play, and 4 assists. It seemed like old times, which is really needed going forward.
The first period ended with the Oilers leading 2-1. The second periods in the VGK’s first 20 games have been an albatross for Vegas; they have a goal differential of -11 in the second periods. On Friday night, they surrendered three second-period goals to St. Louis in their 4-1 loss.
But last night’s was a vast improvement. They scored three goals within 2:12 of one another, in addition to holding Edmonton scoreless. They scored the “Wayne Gretzky Hat Trick” in the second period: a shorthanded goal by Eakin at 2:21, an even-strength goal by Pacioretty at 3:53, and a power-play goal by Marchessault at 4:33.
Actually, I just made up the Wayne Gretzky Hat Trick, but why not? After all, a “Gordie Howe Hat Trick” is a goal, a fight, and an assist. Gretzky never fought, but he set just about every NHL scoring record, so these three different types of goals are very Gretzky-like.
Even Max Pacioretty scored his third goal of the season. It was really a pass to Cody Eakin, who’d already scored to tie the game at 2-2. Patches’ pass was intended for Eakin, but it bounced off of Matt Benning’s leg and landed behind Oiler goaltender Cam Talbot, who had a rough night, giving up six goals on just 31 shots. Vegas scored 3 goals on 12 shots in the second period and never looked back.
The third period was more of the same, as Marchessault added his second goal of the game and Reilly Smith scored, breaking his streak of eight games without a goal.
Eight different VGK players had at least 1 point: Reilly Smith had 3 (1G, 2A), Colin Miller had 3 assists (his second career 3-point game), Marchessault had 2 goals and 1 assist including the PPG, Karlsson had 1 goal and 1 assist, Nate Schmidt was a +1 and had 19:38 of ice time.
In baseball, especially with NY Yankee fans, Reggie Jackson was known as Mr. October for his timely home runs in the playoffs and World Series. Well, Cody Eakin has 5 goals already in November, along with 3 shorthanded goals, 2 coming in November. He logged his eighth goal last night, temporarily tying him with Marchessault for the team lead in goals scored. Marchy scored 2 goals after Eakin’s shorthanded goal to regain the team lead with 10 goals. There are still six games left in November for Eakin to lay claim to a Mr. November title.
My 3 Stars of the Game: Jonathan Marchessault (2 goals including a PPG, 1 assist), Reilly Smith (1 goal, 2 assists), William Karlsson (1 goal, 1 assist)
The VGK are right back at it tonight vs. Calgary and former VGK James Neal at 6 p.m.
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And for the most comprehensive coverage of the Vegas Golden Knights’ historic inaugural season, take a look at our book Vegas Golden Knights—How a First-Year Expansion Team Healed Las Vegas and Shocked the Hockey World.
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