Vegas Hockey Knight
Fansided

Vegas Golden Knights: Tuch’s breakout night, other takeaways from New York

By Andrew Steele-Davis

Alex Tuch #89 of the Vegas Golden Knights scores on the power-play. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Alex Tuch #89 of the Vegas Golden Knights scores on the power-play. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 02: Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers allows a goal to Max Pacioretty #67 of the Vegas Golden Knights at Madison Square Garden on December 2, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 02: Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers allows a goal to Max Pacioretty #67 of the Vegas Golden Knights at Madison Square Garden on December 2, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) /

2. Special teams reign supreme

You live and die by your special teams in the NHL and, last night, the Vegas Golden Knights killed the New York Rangers by way of a thousand cuts.

Starting with the power play, the Golden Knights went a perfect 2-for-2 on the man advantage, with Alex Tuch’s second goal of the night really inflicting a lot of mental damage on the Rangers.

Max Pacioretty then iced the game in the second period after one-timing Cody Glass’ sublime feed past Henrik Lundqvist, and both power plays were perfectly executed.

Then there was the penalty kill.

And, let’s face it, the PK has been clicking at an elite level all season but it was at a whole different level last night.

The penalty kill went a perfect 6-for-6, limiting the Rangers to just nine shots on net and killing off all four power plays in the third period as the Blueshirts tried to claw their way back into the game.

Vegas also generated a plethora of shorthanded chances and they now have another weapon on the penalty kill after making a trade for Washington Capitals center Chandler Stephenson on Monday.

Home/Analysis