In Las Vegas first it was sunny. Then the wind came. Then the rain came.
Then the sun came out again before the puck dropped in the T-Mobile arena on Tuesday April 16 for Game 4 of the Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks first round playoff series.
Period 1
The Knights have regressed. It took them slightly more than a minute to score. Max Pacioretty got one passed Martin Jones at 1:11 into the opening period. It didn’t help Martin Jones that William Karlsson almost put on in against him shorthanded.
The game slowed down considerably in the middle of the period with a series of penalties freezing the action allowing my tweets to be current rather than minutes late.
The Sharks were winning the shots battle by more than ten when Shea Theodore scored on the Knights’ eighth shot of the game.
Despite many power opportunities the Sharks were not able to find the back of the net. Sharks finished the period with 18 shots to the Golden Knights 7 but it’s the Knights that ended the period with a two goal lead behind 18 saves by Fleury.
Period 2
As the second period starts we see a new goalie in net for the Sharks. Martin Jones didn’t have it this series so Aaron Dell would get his shot. Within the first two minutes the Knights were attacking getting past Dell but catching iron.
I was typing how boring this period was midway through when Max Pacioretty decided to put in his second goal of the game at 12:33 into the second period. I turned out Dell was not the answer to stopping the Knights.
After two periods of play the Knights lead the Sharks 3-0 on just fourteen shots but leading the hits game 38 to 20.
Period 3
The third period started with no early scores for the Knights. I’m disappointed, they set the bar high.
Alex Tuch gets by Dell at 6:37 into the period extending the Knights lead to 4-0. Shortly after the Sharks turn chippy when Marcus Sorenson decides to shove and Knights player near the bench and glove smushing action ensues.
At one point the Knights had a 5 on 3 power play. The team clearly wanted to get Patches a hat trick but it wasn’t in the cards.
Pacioretty didn’t get his hat trick but at 16:24 Jonathan Marchessault decided it was time to score his first goal of the postseason.
Las Vegas finished with a 5-0 in a game where they were much more physical. And despite spending too much time in the penalty box, they were able to take the win.
It brings me a lot of joy to not give player of the game to an offensive player. Tonight Marc-Andre Fleury got his groove back with 28 saves and a shutout. Pacioretty still had 4 points, being involved in four of the five Knight’s goals.
But we’re here to celebrate the return of Fleury (and the arrival of Nikita Gusev).
The Sharks host the Golden Knights for game 5 on April 18th at SAP Center. The game will be aired on nationally on NBCSports.