Knights on Ice — From 4 Goals to 27 Goals

The VGK have righted their ship after it hit a sandbar in the beginning of April. They started the month losing 3 of 4 games and in their 3 losses scored a total of 4 goals. Since the first 4 games of April, the VGK have ripped off a 6-game winning streak, scoring 27 goals. They went from averaging 1.33 goals a game in the beginning of April to averaging 4.5 over the last 6 games, including yesterday’s 5-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks.

The results of the streak have the VGK and Colorado Avalanche tied with 64 points each on top of the Honda West Division. The Avs have had 3 games postponed because of at least 3 players testing positive for COVID, so they’ve played 1 less game than the Knights; when Vegas faces off against San Jose tonight, Colorado will have 2 games in hand. So, before you start celebrating the return to the top of the division, keep that in mind. Just note that in the Avs’ last 20 games before their COVID shutdown, they were an incredible 17-1-2. That’s 36 points out of a possible 40.

Not to be overlooked is the world-class goaltending by both Fleury and Lehner who have given up just 10 goals in this 6-game winning streak, including 2 shutouts. The VGK are the only team in the entire NHL who have not given up over 100 goals. They currently lead the league in goals given up with just 98, in comparison to the Philadelphia Flyers who have given up 162 goals and have a goal differential of –34, while Vegas has a +49. The 6 wins have come against the 2 worst teams in their division (Kings and Ducks) and the other 2 wins were against the Coyotes who have passed the St. Louis Blues, who cannot seem to lock down the final playoff spot in the division.

The offensive surge over this streak is coming from everywhere, including the defense and the bottom 6 forwards, which was not happening in January and February.

Mark Stone is currently on a 4-game multi-point streak, a career high, with 3 goals and 5 assists. William Karlsson holds the VGK multi-point record: 5 games in the first season, Nov. 16-25, 2017, 7 goals and 3 assists.

The other Knights who scored yesterday were Max Pacioretty, Alex Pietrangelo, and Nicolas Roy; Alex Tuch added an empty net goal for the final goal of the game. Roy has scored goals in the last 2 games. Max Pacioretty has scored a goal in 3 of the last 4 games.

Fleury was a tad busier tha Lehner on Friday night, making 33 saves on the 35 shots he faced. Lehner faced only 16 shots on Friday. I expected Anaheim to have a better response, considering they stunk up the joint on Friday. But with Vegas having so much more talent up and down the lineup, it’s hard to match up with the 4 lines they roll out at you shift after shift. Then you add in Fleury and Lehner in the blue paint and it’s not going to be an easy night for most teams in this division.

Now I know you have no love for the San Jose Sharks, but if you are going to be at T-Mobile tonight, let’s acknowledge the impressive accomplishment of Patrick Marleau in passing Gordie Howe in games played in the NHL at 1,768. Then you can go back to hating the baby sharks, especially Kane, who won’t have to face Reaves or Kolesar today, so he may decide to get chippy. If he is, I’m not sure who will step up.

We have the new David Perron on our hands, as Max Comtois has scored 5 goals in 7 games against the VGK this season. He did have the winning goal in Anaheim’s only win this season against Vegas, 1-0 win on Feb 11.

My 3 Stars of the Game
1) Mark Stone (1G, a PPG and 1A)
2) Max Pacioretty (1G, 1A)
3) Nicolas Roy (1G, 1A)

Next game is today vs. San Jose at 7 p.m. Pacific Time at T-Mobile.

If you want to hear and see more VGK content please check out the podcast I do with Eddie Rivkin on YouTube it’s called “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.

Pacioretty tips in his 22nd goal

Stone’s breakaway PPG

Roy’s goal