Knights on Ice — The Duck Hunting Trip That Almost Turned Into A Disaster

Last night, the VGK moved one step closer to matching the longest win streak in their brief history with their 6-5 overtime win over the Anaheim Ducks when Shea Theodore scored with 1:10 left in OT, beating John Gibson to the far post as he cruised down the right-wing and took a pass from Mark Stone. Stone had 4 assists in a game that should have been put away long before it ever got to overtime.

Vegas’ longest winning streak was eight games in a row from Dec. 14, 2017, until Jan. 2, 2018.

But it almost turned into a hunting trip where the shooter accidentally shot himself in the foot and the Ducks got away to live another day.

William “Wild Bill” Karlsson, who had gone 21 games without scoring a goal, picked a perfect time to find his scoring touch with 3 last night for his 3^rd career hat trick and in the process became the VGK team leader in hat tricks. Karlsson had been tied with Jonathan Marchessault for the team lead with 2 each.

Karlsson’s last goal was a highlight beauty; with his back facing Gibson, he lifted the puck from his backhand up and over Gibson’s left shoulder while standing to the right of Gibson.

The aftermath of the 2017 expansion draft came back to haunt Anaheim as the 2 players who played instrumental roles in the VGK victory were originally Ducks. Karlsson was a 2^nd round pick and 53^rd overall in the 2011 draft. Shea Theodore was Anaheim’s 1^st-round pick and 26^th overall.

With the score 5-3 and just over 3 minutes to go in the game, Andrew “Sasquatch” Lundsford texted me, asking what was the longest win streak in VGK history. Before I could even respond, Adam Henrique scored with Gibson on the bench for another skater to cut the comfortable 2-goal lead to a slim 1-goal lead. Sasquatch is one of the most generous VGK fans I know. He often gives away his center-ice seats to single-parent families whose children have never been to a VGK game and to veterans about to deploy or just returning from overseas. But when Gibson was pulled again, Adam Henrique scored again with 1:15 left to tie the game at 5-5. At this point, Sasquatch lost his “good-guy” title in my world and became the VGK “cooler.”

He tried to make amends by texting, “You have the makings of a good article. They are going to win.”

I asked him, “Is this your attempt to undo your jinx?”

He doubled down on Subban by trying to use reverse psychology: “Subban can’t win in OT.”

“If it goes to a shootout,” I thumbed back, “I like Subban’s chances. He has an amazing shootout record with the VGK.”

Shea Theodore took matters into his own hands and didn’t let it get to a shootout. And not even Sasquatch the Cooler could ruin the 6-game winning streak.

This was a tough game for the VGK. They were coming off an amazing 5-game homestand and had played Saturday night against Florida. Not to make excuses, but this game had letdown written all over it — playing one of the worst teams in the league on back-to-back games and riding a wave of confidence. 

The game seemed very quick as Anaheim wanted to use their fresh legs against the ones that had played the night before, along with the playing in their 6^th game in 11 days. Last night was only Anaheim’s 3^rd game in the last 6 days. So the Ducks’ fresh legs showed, especially in the late stages with Vegas holding a 2-goal lead. It was one they earned, but possibly made them turn on the cruise control prematurely.

Not only did they have to squash the Ducks’ momentum, but they had to kill a power play that Anaheim was awarded with just 47 seconds left and carried over until the 1:13 mark of the OT. It wasn’t pretty and Subban, who gave up 5 goals, did make some quality saves, keeping the game tied before former Duck Theodore had the last quack. They say water rolls off a Ducks’ back. Well, Theodore’s well-placed winning goal rolled by John Gibson to save the hunting trip from becoming a disaster.

Do you know what’s good about a 6-game winning streak? Vegas now has 2 days off and a chance to make it 7 against the Edmonton Oilers, who sit in 2^nd place right behind the VGK in the lead of the Pacific Division. Wednesday should be an interesting game, as Connor “NASCAR” McDavid returned to the lineup last night in L.A. and had his usual amazing game.

Malcolm Subban, allowing 5 goals on 25 shots, needs to be better down the stretch to give the Flower some rest before the playoffs.

Just three days after Alec Martinez became the eighth Golden Knight to score in his Vegas debut, Patrick Brown followed by becoming the ninth player to achieve that feat. Brown was in his first game as a VGK after playing 28 games with the Carolina Hurricanes over the last 3 seasons. Brown’s goal was the 2^nd  of his NHL career. After the game, both Brown and Quinney were sent back down to Chicago. Was this move in anticipation of a new VGK coming on board before 12 noon today when the trade deadline occurs?

My 3 Stars of the Game: William Karlsson (hat trick), Shea Theodore (game-winning goal in OT despite coughing up the puck in front of the net that led to an Anaheim goal), Mark Stone (4 assists)

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Karlsson’s hat trick

Theodore’s OT winner