On June 23, 2017, Nick Suzuki, a 17-year-old boy from London, Ontario, was drafted in the first round by the VGK; he was the 13th overall pick and considered the future of the VGK.
On June 22, 2021, the same Suzuki returned to Las Vegas as a 21-year-old man wearing the red and white sweater of the Montreal Canadiens.
It appears his return might have ruined the immediate future of the VGK in a year where the VGK seemed destined to have a return date and a second chance to win the Stanley Cup in their brief 4-year history. Last night, Suzuki had 1 goal and 2 assists in the 4-1 victory in a pivotal game 5 victory at T-Mobile.
With the series tied at 2 games apiece, a win by the VGK last night would have given them a stranglehold on the series. But for the 2nd time in 3 games at T-Mobile, Montreal beat the VGK to everyone’s surprise.
The franchise has changed its course since achieving early success with deep playoff runs in 2 of their first 3 years. The stockpiling of draft picks was aborted and the large amount of cap space was relinquished. They are, in poker terms, all in now to win and their original plan of a Stanley Cup in 6 years is no longer the plan. It’s win now and spend spend spend right up to the maximum allowed under the salary cap of $81.5 million
They brought in Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty, whose combined salaries add up to $16.5 million per year, a full 20% of the cap. Stone and Pacioretty have combined for 1 goal and 2 assists in the Round 3’s five playoff games. Nick Suzuki makes $863,333 a year (5% of what Pacioretty and Stone make and around 1% of the salary cap) and has 1 goal and 4 assists.
Nick Suzuki is quickly becoming a nightmare to George McPhee, the GM behind the trade that sent Suzuki, Tomas Tatar, and a 2nd round draft pick in the 2019 draft to Montreal, along with retaining a portion of Tatar’s salary, in exchange for Max Pacioretty. In acquiring Mark Stone, the VGK gave up another high draft pick by sending Erik Brannstrom, (first round, 15th overall, 2017) and Oscar Lindberg to Ottawa. Brannstrom hasn’t come back to haunt McPhee like Suzuki has, but valuable assets have been sacrificed in the VGK’s quest for the Stanley Cup over their first 4 years.
By no means am I laying the entire blame for the VGK being on the brink of elimination on the shoulders of Stone and Pacioretty; the blame runs a hell of a lot deeper than just these 2 players. In Rounds 1 and 2, 6 forwards — Marchessault, Stone, Pacioretty, Tuch, Karlsson, and Smith — combined for 25 goals. In Round 3 against Montreal, they’ve accounted for 1 goal and that was in last night’s game when Pacioretty finally scored to make the score 3-1 with 15:51 left to play in the game. Suzuki closed the scoring with an empty-net goal with just 1:06 left in a game that was decided long before that.
Vegas was never in this game. They had nothing going. They were beaten to every loose puck, lost every puck battle, never had any forecheck, and allowed Montreal all of the space they needed. Let me just be frank with you: The Golden Knights stunk up T-Mobile last night and it wasn’t a secret among the fans. For the first time since Oct. 2017, the VGK were actually booed by their loyal crowd during their 2nd power play of the game.
Yes, their power play sucks. Look, I’m trying to be nice, but this is the best I can do when describing it. Montreal has a good PK unit, but the ineptness of the VGK power play is making the Montreal PK unit appear world-class.
Usually on a Tuesday, night there’s almost no traffic in my Las Vegas neighborhood, but last night, even that was more than there was in front of Corey Price. The consensus coming into the series was that Montreal needed Price to steal at least 2 games for them to have a chance to beat the VGK. Just the opposite is true. Now, Robin Lehner or Marc-Andre Fleury will need to steal Game 6 tomorrow in Montreal to get this series to a Game 7 on Saturday night.
I’m not sure this is possible, as the desire and passion of the VGK are MIA. Then again, so are the 12 forwards who are being outworked and Pete DeBoer who is being out coached by the assistant coach of Montreal. DeBoer has made zero adjustments.
Other game notes.
The Canadiens haven’t allowed a power-play goal in the past 12 games, the longest postseason streak since the NHL began tracking goals by strength in 1933-34. They’re 28-for-28 on the penalty kill in that span. The 1936-37 Detroit Red Wings, 1939-40 New York Rangers, and 1999-2000 New Jersey Devils each had a 10-game streak, tied for the second-longest. The Golden Knights are 0-for-13 on the power play in the series.
Pacioretty’s goal was the first by a top-six VGK forward in the series.
Teams that take a 3-2 lead are 47-15 (.758) in winning a best-of-7 Stanley Cup Playoff semifinals series.
My 3 stars of the Game
1) Nick Suzuki (1G, 2 A)
2) Corey Price (26 saves on 27 shots)
3) The coaching staff of Montreal (despite losing their head coach to a positive COVID test, their system and defensive scheme remain intact)
Next game is tomorrow at Bell Centre at 5 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.
Suzuki’s assist on Staal’s goal
Tough save by Price
Pacioretty’s goal
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Marcy Gordon sent her opinion in on my take
You are 100% accurate ( as always). Shame that the team that had so much talent has lost its spark.
We have forsaken a future ( ie: Suzuki) for a
Maybe Immediate gratification.
Time to flip old thought processes. The VGK fans are devoted and would be willing to invest in futures. Let the past be our guide to changing up what obviously isn’t working.
Marcy Gordon you are 100% accurate in your explanation. Something has to give.
Joe P.
Christine Balz had this opinion
Not sure where our team went…..let’s hope they find themselves somewhere on the flight from Vegas to Montreal!
Christine Balz lets hope.
Joe P.
Reply by Valerie:
What happened? How come VGK unable to get scores? Where’s the energy and the offensive play? What’s going on? Where’s with Whitecloud and Stoney, etc.?
Made a comment on another post….if they lose this series they’ll need a big mirror and for some…..different uniforms next year.
I thought coach tried to make changes last night (dump and chase vs carrying the puck in)….they did that for the first 10 minutes and actually had a forecheck….then the joke of a pp and all energy and confidence went out the window. Stones’ lack of effort on the back check after he was stripped speaks volumes about the psyche of this team…..I suspect significant changes in the off-season if this continues.
Thomas
One change I see coming is Spott the PP coach should be unemployed ASAP
Joe P.
Once again spot on with comments. Not only do we share the same BD we also agree of hockey ideaology. I posted this on facebook Tuesday night after the lifeless showing in game 5.
Notifications
Mike Freres
JScunhtoe 2c2Sh Santp om9n:fsomS1goh9re gredlPMd ·
Just a few observations.
Fire the pp coach. Zero goals in like 13 chances. Horrific.
Can we get rid of the dump and chase system we are doing now? It wastes energy and if and when it gets centered NO ONE is in front of the net.
We need to develop a nose for the puck in close. Too many fan shots, pucks slithering by, etc.
Why can’t we emulate TB on their pp? -Possession possession , possession. Find the open man. Have more patience on offense. After we bring the puck over the blue line dish it off to players.
5. Get rid of the attitude that teams are going to hand us these games just because we are at The Fortress. We need to come to the rink ready to play. I remember in season 1 Gallant used to say that we were chasing the puck all game long. And even the players are saying that we need to execute better blah, blah, blah. We need to play a full 60 minutes. We are getting outhustled and outcoached and deserve to lose. How many times does Fleury have to go side to side for a save?. And Price just stands tall in the middle. because that is where the shots are. In his breadbasket and not on the edges of the net.
I am done now ranting. The Knights need 2 more. Robin needs to be in goal in game 6 and if we get it then he needs to also start game 7. Because he is more of a patient goalie and i think that frustrates Montreal. There is a reason why we had the top points in the regular season. Now let’s go out there and prove it!
Michael excellent points. Yes Montreal is letting Fleury overcommit and then sending the puck east to west, catching him out of position. Lehner who is not a fluid as Fleury doesn’t often get caught out of position. So you will see less acrobatic saves with Lehner than you do with Fleury.
Joe P.
Terrie R Davis sent this comment in
I would of been happy if just a quarter of them would of gotten off the bus 😞.
Where did that VGK spark go ?? Starting the game half way thru the 3rd period won’t win us a cup. It appeared they had no drive and no desire. Let’s go find the misfits….
Terrie R Davis very true
Joe P.
Valerie Last sent this comment in
Well, this is NOT the time for VGK to be having variances issues. VGK needs to readjust to Montreal’s strong defensive line and goalie. VGK needs to get scores and get those power plays. They need to adjust and not make mistakes. They CAN do it if they can adjust their play style and mental focus. Ok, into game # 6!🎉🎉
Savvy Collins sent this opinion in
They earned that loss. Plain and simple. No organization or motivation til the 3rd , not hustling to keep the puck in the zone, sloppy puck handling, NO ONE covering Cole Caulfield. I was right there with everyone else booing them. Terrible showing
Savvy Collins first time in 4 years I have ever heard them booed by the crowd at the fortress.
Joe P.
Savvy Collins responded back
Joe Pane Yep! Facts! They earned it though. Have no idea were their heads were at? I spent A LOT for that game. Throw in the towel now so I can get my refund for game 7 if that’s how they are going to show up. Seems like season 1. They make it all the way then they choke.
Hagle Patricia wrote
Thanks for the update
Hagle Patricia I wish it was better news than what I reported on.
Joe P.
Eric Callner sent this opinion in
100% Accurate. No need to rehash what we already know. The same story in the playoffs every time.
Eric Callner its getting “OLD”
Joe P.
Lan Byester sent this comment in
For once, I agree with every single words mentioned in this article. I don’t think PDB going to change. I’m thinking it’s time to spike the players Gatorade.
Lan Byester now I know I have reached the pinnacle. When you agree with every single word. Can I give you a lift to Pahrump?
Joe P.
Lan responded to my offer of a lift to Pahrump
Joe Pane for some reason, I’m not in the mood to be around crowds right now, lol. Pahrump is giving me the peace i need. 😁
Jill Maddy wrote
All true…and heartbreaking to admit.
Tonia Williams wrote
They need to get their $@#% together & win the next two games!!
Tonia Williams good teams rise to the challenge. I guess Thursday night we will find out just how good they are.
Joe P.
Tonia Williams responded
Joe Pane I am really hoping to be able to go to a Knights Lightning game when I’m in Vegas!
Well for that to happen TB has to win their game 7 on Friday and the VGK have a bigger hill to climb they must now beat Montreal 2 games in a row and they have not been able to do that so far.
Joe P.
Mike Maxwell sent this opinion in
Spot on Joe. I find it stunning just how often they’ve tried the same zone entry technique with no success and still haven’t adjusted (something I praised DeBoer for at the end of the Avs series). I saw Holden and Martinez dump the puck in, that’s about it, and any other dump in was soft and easily recovered by Montreal. As for traffic in front of Price, you can’t do that if you can’t apply pressure in O-Zone. I’m tired of seeing our forwards skate over the blueline, do a buttonhook and the have the Canadiens take it away, I’m tired of seeing Theodore cough it up at the blueline, I’m tired of seeing Tuch fire it high and wide and i’m tired of seeing our guys being lazy on the back check, and I’m tired of seeing lost puck battles. Our guys are better than that. I still have faith, but they have to look at what made them successful against Minny, and that was “dump and chase”, apply the forecheck and rattle their defense. Suzuki and Caufield are running circles around us.
Mike Maxwell are the Montreal Canadiens that good or did their first 13 games in rounds 1 and 2 empty the tank? I find it hare to believe that PDB does not have an adjustment for what they are doing to them especially on their entries into their offensive zone.
Joe P.
Mike Maxwell responded to my question of him
Joe Pane The Canadiens aren’t as talented as Vegas, they’re less talented than Toronto and Winnipeg too but they’re good insofar as they’ve bought in to a system that enables them to win. The only Knight that can claim fatigue might be Fleury, the rest is simply a mental laziness. Two goals last night were scored by the trailer left all alone – that’s basic defense. Also, when Montreal recovers the puck in their own zone it’s out with one pass, our guys are fumbling around and end up giving it back to the Habs. As for the VGK offence, their entry is weak, their dump in’s are weak and Montreal is simply winning every…and I mean every puck battle. This is all down to mental laziness. They have to get the puck in deep and win the battle. As Eddie Shore said “arrive first and with ill temper
Patti Portolesi had this point
This team is good at a lot of things choking being one of them!!!!
Mary Becker wrote
Not sure what we do now. DeBoer tried about everything he could think of last night
And nothing worked. I’ve been on the Holden bandwagon but I think he’s done. Hasn’t produced much or help stop much. Although I still think he’s underrated. The Powerplay although there have not been very many penalties but come on our power play is horrible. But that’s not because of the playoffs, it always has been. We’ve got to stay positive although that’s a little hard at this point but let’s not give up I’m not
Karissa Harrington wrote
And the “heavy hitting” VGK were outhit last night too 🙄🙄
Montreal led the NHL in hits this year..Vegas was 20th..
I have been watching playoff performances in baseball, football, and hockey for 50 years. The adage that defense wins championships and predominantly dominates great offensive teams has been evidenced repeatedly! This truth is being demonstrated again.
Judy Schneider wrote
Just 🙏🙏that they find their legs tonight!!🏒🥅☝️🍁🇨🇦#goKnightsgo #
Nathan Gober sent this comment in
It all has to do with the energy on the ice we don’t have the Montreal does they have every game we don’t they have start to finish the game we won we get at the end of the game if we play with energy the full game we beat them every time but not the way we are playing I blame flower for one goal the other night the rest was the def fault 100% he can only do so much he is only human!