No matter how much you believe in this team, and how little you believe that the VGK feed off the emotion and energy of the crowd at T-Mobile, it was clear that — believe it or no —something special happens when 17,504 (“seventh man”) fans and 19 skaters get together at T-Mobile. It’s actually magical.
I’ve attended every VGK home game. I’m hard-pressed to recall a crowd as loud or energized as last night. It was a must-win and win they did by a score of 3-2, scoring two 3rd period goals.
But before you get too pumped, last night was just the first step up the mountain that would have been next to impossible to climb —if 2 members of the original misfit team, William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault, hadn’t found a way to get pucks behind Philipp Grubauer, who’s been spectacular in this series, stopping 103 of 109 shots.
When William Karlsson kicked the loose puck onto his stick and away from the mass of bodies in front of Grubauer to score, it gave the VGK their only lead in the first 3 games of this series. It was the first goal and came a full 4:38 into the second period. Vegas dominated the first, allowing Colorado just 3 shots on goal. Colorado didn’t even register a SOG until the 6:02 mark.
But the lead that Karlsson provided didn’t last long. Carl Soderberg, an unlikely source, scored just 1:29 later. The VGK killer Mikko Rantanen scored a power play goal 5:04 into the 3rd period and things were looking bleak as the clock was winding down to just 5 minutes in the game and the VGK trailing.
The seventh man never gave up; it kept on pushing with one voice. And then the smallest guy on the team, who has the heart of a lion, was not about to disappoint the VGK secret weapon. Marchessault took a pass from Reilly Smith and broke in alone on Grubauer. Marchessault’s initial shot never made it to Grubauer. The puck rolled to the end boards. As far as he could possibly be from the front of the net, Marchessault still saw that Grubauer had lost his position and wasn’t on the left post; if he tried to bring the puck back out in front, Grubauer would have time to regain his position. So he played a little bank shot off the back of Grubauer’s leg — like a perfectly placed pool shot by Willie Mosconi.
From that point on, the seventh man would not be silenced, in fact, never sat down again.
Just 45 seconds after the Marchessault goal, Max Pacioretty tipped in a point shot by Nick Holden and the crowd went wild.
But things weren’t over just yet. Colorado pulled their goaltender for the extra skater and we know how potent the Av’s are with a man advantage: They’ve scored 5 power play goals in the first 3 games against Vegas, who had the #1 PK in the entire league.
Mikko Rantanen found the puck on his stick in the waning moments of the game. Rantanen has 4 goals in the Avs 7 playoff games, along with 2 GWG and 1 overtime goal. He tried to pitch Fleury a curveball, as his winning OT goal in Game 2 was high over Fleury’s shoulder and he assumed Fleury would be looking for a high shot. So Rantanen went for the 5 hole between the pads, but Fleury was one step ahead and stoned him. The entire building erupted into a chant — “Fleury! Fleury! Fleury!”— that post game he said gave him the goosebumps that hadn’t subsided even then.
To think that last year in the playoffs, he pretty much sat on the bench amid persistent rumors that he’d played his last game in a VGK uniform. Fleury is a proud man and in my opinion, he was embarrassed by his benching. He worked hard in the off season and proved that even at the age of 36 and playing in his 17th year, he’s far from done. Some still hate Pete DeBoer for his treatment of Fleury last year. Sometimes things happen for a reason and right now, Fleury is the goaltender of the VGK and this is in no way, shape, or form a knock on Robin Lehner.
Some will say the players are the ones who score the goals or Marc-Andre Fleury is the one making spectacular saves and I will give you that. But when you hear the players talk about the energy that is created in T-Mobile and how they use that in crucial moments, it makes you understand how important the seventh man is at T-Mobile.
Other game notes. To hear Colorado’s Jared Bednar speak, it sounds like a coach whose team is down 2 to 1 instead of up 2-1. “For five periods straight, they’ve been more competitive than we’ve been. To dissect it further than that is a waste of time.”
Bednar added, “We need to beat the team that tied us for first in the league.”
Marchessault has just 2 goals in the 10 playoff games, but right now they’re the most significant 2 goals so far: the first in Game 2 vs. Minnesota and last night’s goal that tied the game. Marchessault is the smallest guy on the team with the biggest heart and determination. He also led the team in a game-high 6 hits last night.
My 3 Stars of the Game
1) Max Pacioretty (1G, the GWG)
2) Jonathan Marchessault (Yes, size does not matter)
3) William Karlsson (1G off of great hand-eye coordination)
Next game is tomorrow at T-Mobile at 5:30 p.m. Pacific Time
If you want to hear and see more VGK content please check out the podcast I do with Eddie Rivkin on YouTube, Hockey Knights in Vegas.
Your comments and opinions are welcome here at Las Vegas Advisor or you may contact me directly at [email protected] or on my Facebook page or the Facebook page of Vegas Hockey Guy or on Twitter @TheRealJoePane
One other note: If you’re reading this blog from Facebook or Twitter and would like to access it earlier in the morning before I share it on social media, it’s usually published by 8 a.m. the morning after a game on LasVegasAdvisor.com. What better way is there to enjoy your morning coffee than reading my take on last night’s VGK game.
Never miss another post
Scottie Maiello
Just said this
YES
Scottie in the future try to limit the words in your comments. People tend to stop reading after 20 words. 🙂
Joe P.
Scottie Maiello with 3 words I like it Scottie
What a game
Joe P.
Hagle Patricia wrote
Great game !!!!
No one left early “to beat the traffic” like those Dodger fans in LA. What a fabulous game.
There is nothing like playoff hockey in the NHL.
The smallest people can have the biggest hearts :). Mine was in my mouth for the entire game!
Yes Cheryl you and the other 17,504 that were in attendance last night.
Joe P.
Jeff Yepsen sent this comment in
Grabbed victory from the jaws of defeat.
Mary Becker had this opinion
I really think Holden should have been the star of the game. He’s went through a lot of controversy and he has really stepped up in these playoffs. Last night he played the game of his life without that shot from him there was no third goal
Mary Becker, valid point but who do I leave out to give Holden a star?
Joe P.
Mary Becker responded
Karrlson. Yes his goal was unique but Holden offered more to the game overall
Kevin Logan sent this in
Always look forward to your analysis!
Eric Callner wrote
What a game!
Nick Irie sent this in
If we can keep up the pressure each period and keep their top lines off the score board we have a good chance of getting back in this. The guys who netted for us needed the boost and hopefully that confidence carries over to the next games
Nick
Very true but keeping them off of their power play is also important they are deadly on their power play. They have 5 PPG in the first 3 games
Joe P.
Comments from Karen
I noticed that all of our goals in Game 3 were re-directed shots, more or less: Karlsson kicked the puck into place before shooting it in, Marchy bounced his off of Grubauer’s backside, and Patches redirected Stone’s shot to get it into the net for the win. We were out-shooting them, but none of those straight-on shots made it into the net. Grubauer’s no doubt a superb goalie, and I think we need to keep finding less direct ways (rebounds) to sneak the puck past him into the net, since most of our long-range attempts get stopped. I’m a new fan, guys, so if this post is too damned obvious, I’d appreciate not being attacked over it. I just want us to win and advance! It’s not like Pete D is taking advice from me! #VGK#goldenknights#goknightsgo!
Brian Morrell responded to Karen
Most of our shots were “telegraphed” (taking way too long to shoot after receiving the puck), and therefore not too difficult to block. Most NHL goalies will stop whatever they can see!
Karen Youngstrom wrote back
Brian Morrell –Before the Knights, I didn’t give the tiniest damn about Hockey; and I lived in L.A. when “The Great One” came to play for the Kings! Now I’m trying to watch and learn as much as I can about the game, because the Knights just really lit a fire here in Vegas from Day ONE!!
Karen
It was Holden shot that Patches redirected but your point is valid, traffic in front of him taking away his eyes and redirecting pucks is the way to go. Welcome to being a fan of the greatest sport to watch live.
Joe P.
Karen Youngstrom wrote
Joe Pane Thanks! I’ve caught “Hockey Fever” for sure! NBA used to be my favorite sport to watch (on TV) because it’s so fast, but I’ve been following the NHL games more now. Sadly, I haven’t been to any live games in either sport…..Should I start a “GoFundMe”?
Chris Jimenez had this opinion
Net front presence it’s been missing
When it’s there they score
Julio Boltes sent this comment in
Game three we finally had some PUCK LUCK 🍀
Don Charbonneau had this comment
If I heard the announcers correctly, our guys stick handle too much. To the point they don’t get good shots and Grube can figure them out.
Judy Billman Grech wrote
I’m so happy for Holden, the couch coaches wanted him gone… they wanted Fleury gone.. they wanted Karlsson gone…
Now they want Reaves gone… they want Smith gone.
It’s just amazing how they ignore the Coaches opinions on these players and just go on their merry way couch coaching. rant over.