Actually, Las Vegas does have a coyote problem and has for years, due to the constant development of new and ever-expanding residential areas previously only occupied by non-humans. Coyotes don’t pose a threat to humans, but they do feast on small dogs and cats.
My community is in the middle of a golf course and I’ve encountered a few coyotes while walking my Golden Retrievers. One night two followed us home for over more than a half-mile. Ironically, after that encounter, I carried one of my hockey sticks, just in case. Hockey sticks can be useful off the ice.
But on the ice, Vegas has no Coyote problem. In this inaugural season for the VGK including last night’s game, they’ve faced the Arizona Coyotes four times, and remain undefeated. The scores of the previous three games were 2-1 in OT, 5-2, 4-2, and last night’s 3-2 final score in OT with a goal by Reilly Smith, his seventh of the season.
Coming into the game, Vegas was 4-0 in overtime this season, not including shootouts. With last night’s win, they remain perfect at 5-0 during the five-minute OTs. Of the VGK’s 16 wins, five have come in overtime.
Three-point games are dangerous when facing teams in your conference, especially in your own division; that’s one extra point that could make a difference in a playoff spot or having home-ice advantage in a playoff series, which is very important. But this three-point game, in my opinion, won’t have an effect, because I don’t see the Coyotes making a post-season appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
In last night’s game, the VGK yet again came out with a lot of speed and pretty much dominated the first period. They fired off 27 shots on Coyote goaltender Scott Wedgewood, who saved 15, while seven were wide of the net and five were blocked by the Coyotes. Wedgewood faced 45 shots in the OT loss; he was the better goalie, but was denied the win. The VGK’s Malcolm Subban also played well, stopping 31 of the 33 shots he faced.
Some problems do still exist and need attention if there will be a legitimate run to the playoffs for Vegas. Once again last night, the VGK surrendered a third-period lead to a power-play goal by Derek Stephan. Vegas has now given up four PP goals to the opposing team in their last two games, though their own power plays haven’t scored in the last 11 chances they’ve had.
Special team production in scoring on the power play and killing penalties will win playoff games and series. Right now, the VGK aren’t running on all cylinders in this very important area.
Still, the VGK have accomplished a number of good things, like 8-1-0 vs. their own division and scoring on average 3.88 goals per game. They’re 10-1-0 when scoring the first goal and have an amazing record at home of 10-2-0. This kind of home record for an established team is great, but for an expansion team, it’s almost unheard of. The VGK’s defensive core have registered 51 points, which ties them with Toronto for the league lead.
How does this team do it night after night? They do it with complete team efforts. Yes, there have been a couple of cracks in the ice in the first 26 games, but tell me this: Before the season started, would you have ever believed they’d be 16-9-1? I know I didn’t see this coming — and neither did the other 30 teams.
But things will only get better. More good news is that the list of injured players that has plagued VGN from game four on seems to be evaporating. First-string goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has been cleared to resume practice and both David Perron and William Carrier were taken off IR.
Perron’s injury gave Coach Gallant the chance to get Oscar Lindberg going. Coach has put Lindberg in Perron’s spot on the line, with Neal and Haula, who have been good offensively this season. Coach is hoping that this move will help Oscar, who hasn’t scored in 13 games. If this doesn’t work, look for Lindberg to be a healthy scratch when Perron returns to the lineup.
I probably put too much emphasis on the VGK having to win this game to snap their losing streak. But it was important to win this game, especially against a team that’s ranked 30th in goals per game, 30th in goals against, 20th on the power play, and 14th overall on the penalty kill. Losing to teams like this will destroy confidence, especially in the middle of a team’s own three-game losing streak.
The VGK are back at it on Tuesday night, December 5, versus the Anaheim Ducks T-Mobile at 7 p.m.
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