Vegas Golden Knights Lose Heartbreaker, Season Ends In Disappointment

Disasterous third period leads to disappointment for the Vegas Golden Knights.

We all knew what the Vegas Golden Knights were up against when they faced off against the Washington Capitals in the Stanley Cup Final. The expansion franchise acknowledged the fact that the Caps are their toughest test. However, the Golden Knights are down three games to one with their backs against the wall in game five.

Obviously, the Caps did not make any changes as long as they keep winning, so Head Coach Barry Trotz is sticking with the same lineup. Naturally, Braden Holtby gets the start in net for Washington.

As for Vegas, Head Coach Gerard Gallant made two changes to the lineup. Gallant put David Perron in place of Ryan Carpenter, and William Carrier replaced Ryan Reaves. Marc-Andre Fleury had one last chance to right all the wrongs in this series, and that starts with getting a victory Thursday night.

The first period was an evenly contested period by both squads. Each club had excellent scoring chances. Alex Ovechkin had two prime scoring opportunities in the opening 20 minutes. One appeared early on that Fleury made a sensational save on, and the other came on the power play that rang off the post.

Cody Eakin also setup Tomas Tatar beautifully for a scoring chance, but it went to waste after the Ilava, Czechoslovakia native couldn’t corral the puck for a shot. Other than that, the first 20 minutes was a neutral zone battle. Lots of physicality from each team.

After one period, zeroes on each side. Shot totals were 9-7 Washington in the first frame. The Golden Knights needed to come out with more firepower in the second period if they want to survive in this series.

The second period began with a Capitals power play. The visiting team received a ton of momentum despite Fleury making two big saves on the penalty kill. Golden Knights had a power play chance of their own, but they couldn’t capitalize on their opportunity.

A few minutes later, Deryk Engelland looked like he had a clear lane to shoot at Holtby, he misses the net, and Jakub Vrana is off to the races. Vrana goes on the breakaway and scores glove side on Fleury and its 1-0 Capitals.

The Golden Knights answered back with a Nate Schmidt point shot that deflected off of Matt Niskanen’s skate and in the net. The former Capitals scores against his old club for his third of the playoffs. Good things happen when you throw shots on goal and that’ exactly what happened for Vegas on that sequence. But the Capitals gained all the momentum back on the next two shifts.

Brayden McNabb trips up Ovechkin off the faceoff setting up for another Washington power play. Very next face-off Ovechkin scores off the fantastic feed from Nicklas Backstrom. The Capitals were in the driver’s seat again, but not for long.

The Golden Knights have responded all playoffs long after goals from the opposing team and they did it again here. Tatar puts one off of Perron that was obstructing Holtby for his first of the postseason. After a controversial goaltender interference challenge by Washington, the refs stuck with the call on the ice, good goal, tied game at two.

William Karlsson looked to be coming down the wing with an excellent scoring chance, but Ovechkin tripped him down, putting Vegas on the power play. Shea Theodore shoots one towards the net and Alex Tuch deflected it, picked the puck up and made a sweet feed to Reilly Smith who put in the yawning cage for his fifth of the playoffs to give the Golden Knights a 3-2 lead late in the middle frame.

After two periods the Golden Knights came out with their best period of hockey since game one. Shots favored Vegas in the second period 13-11 and tied at 20 overall. A welcoming sight for all Golden Knights fans With 20 minutes to go, they weren’t ready to slow down.

The final frame started off with both teams trading prime scoring chances. Fleury and Holtby were up to the task two minutes into the third period each saving two shots each. Then the Golden Knights killed off the most significant penalty of the year when Tatar took a tough hooking call.

A broken play washed it all away however as Brooks Orpik threw the puck to the goal, took a crazy bounce to Devante Smith-Pelly. Smith-Pelly barley shot it through Fleury to tie the game at three. An unfortunate break for the Golden Knights. And if you thought that was bad, things went from bad to worse in a heartbeat.

Luca Sbisa’s lack of ability to defend Lars Eller in the crease cost the Golden Knights dearly. Brett Connolly’s shot broke through Fleury’s five-hole slightly, and Eller pounced on the opportunity and just like that the Caps took a 4-3 lead. A dramatic turn of events for the Golden Knights and their fans.

The Golden Knights couldn’t muster up any scoring chances after that as the Capitals suffocated them every zone entry. The time ticked off the clock, and the Capitals won the Stanley Cup on T-Mobile Arena ice. A sour ending to an incredible season by the Vegas Golden Knights.

After a long line of handshakes, the Golden Knights gathered at center ice for one final stick salute to their fans for an unbelievable season. The Conn Smythe trophy presentation soon followed, and the winner was none other than Alex Ovechkin. Ovechkin hoisted Lords Stanley and gave the Golden Knights fans their first taste of humble pie.

Vegas Hockey Knight’s Three Stars

3rd Star) Alex Ovechkin- One goal, five shots on goal, two hits and two PIM in 19:51 TOI.

2nd Star) Devante Smith-Pelly- One goal, three shots on goals, two hits in 10:10 TOI.

1st Star) Lars Eller- Stanley Cup-winning goal, five shots on goal, two hits in 14:55 TOI.

Next: Vegas Golden Knights Should Not Throw A Parade If Team Loses Stanley Cup Final

All in all, this will sting for a long, long time Vegas Golden Knights fans. This story was supposed to have a better ending. But perhaps, this is the end of the beginning. Heads up Golden Knights fans, you have nothing to be ashamed of.