Golden Knights get near complete game win on Kraken
On a night where the Seattle Mariners lost to the Houston Astros in 18 innings to end their pennant chase bid, the Vegas Golden Knights were looking to build on the wins against Los Angeles and Chicago. The result was a near complete game win against the Seattle Kraken. With a 5-0 lead after two periods, the Golden Knights forced the Kraken to pull starter Martin Jones in favor of Phillip Grubauer. The 5-2 final was the second time in franchise history the club has started off with a 3-0-0 record. In the game, Jonathan Marchessault got two goals against the Kraken.
First Period Breakdown – That was quick!
Right off the gate, the Golden Knights wasted no time getting on the scoreboard against the Seattle Kraken. Just 12 seconds into the opening period and right off the faceoff from William Carrier, Kegan Kolesar scored his first goal of the season. Jonathan Marchessault added to the score with 15:29 left in the first off the sticks of Nicolas Roy and Alex Pietrangelo. With two goals in the first 3:07 of the game, setting scene and the pace of play was the best case scenario.
Adin Hill made his first start of the season in net and first as a Golden Knight. Hill during the period would stop all 11 shots and it looks like he felt right at home to start the season. After the Golden Knights scored their two goals, the remainder of the period was a flurry of shots and solid play by the Kraken. The special teams did a decent job and continues to improve. In the final seven minutes of the period, the Golden Knights did not land a single shot on goal.
Score after one period of play: Golden Knights 2, Kraken 0
Overall impressions of the first period of play:
– Hot and cold offense. Great start, less filling. Need to find a way to keep pressure on all period.
– Adin Hill looked good in his season and Golden Knights debut.
– Special Teams continue to improve.
First Period Grades
Offense: A+ | Defense: A+ | Special Teams: A+ | Goaltending: A+
Second Period Breakdown – Marchessault gets two goals
The Golden Knights and Kraken traded momentum and offensive barbs early but the majority of the first part of the second in the Golden Knight offensive zone. Stephenson was awarded a penalty shot with 15:23 left in the second off a Vince Dunn hooking call in goal and came up short against Kraken goaltender Martin Jones.
Overall, the offense was really clicking for the majority of the period. Phil Kessel is finally starting to work his way into the offensive stat sheet. His shots are starting to connect. On the power play off a Carson Soucy cross-check, Reilly Smith scored a clutch goal at 13:55 putting the score at 3-0. Four minutes later, Marchessault would collect his second goal of the night, with his third of the period. Then with just 17 seconds remaining in the period, the Golden Knights added on to on what is turning out to be one of the worst nights in Seattle sports history with a goal. It is Shea Theodore’s first of the season.
Score after two periods of play: Golden Knights 5, Kraken 0
Overall impressions of the second period of play:
– Special Teams delight. Power play goal by Reilly Smith keeps offense on fire.
– More goals, more shots.. offense playing a complete period.
– Adin Hill still looks great.. Martin Jones .. not so much
Second Period Grades
Offense: A+ | Defense: A+ | Special Teams: A+ | Goaltending: A+
Third Period Breakdown – Just finish the game
The third period of play began with Phillip Grubauer replacing Jones in goal for the Seattle Kraken after surrendering five goals in two periods. With a five goal lead, the Golden Knights started to take their foot off the gas pedal. The good was the Golden Knights were strong off the faceoff. Then at 13:19 in the period, the shutout bid for the Golden Knights was put to an end with a Justin Schultz goal putting the score at 5-1 in the third.
Paul Cotter was called for a goalie interference penalty at 14:54, which was highly questionable. The call resulted in a power play goal for the Kraken off the stick of Jaden Schwartz ending the perfect streak of penalty kills on the season for the Golden Knights. Despite the two goals given up by Hill, the overall painting of the game was all in the favor of Vegas.
Overall impressions of the third period of play:
– Continuing to win the face-off battle pays off for the Golden Knights
– Paul Cotter’s penalty call was bogus and led to the end of Penalty Kill Perfection.
– Defense was still blocking shots, making big hits
Third Period Grades
Offense: B | Defense: B- | Special Teams: C+ | Goaltending: A-
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Three Takes on Game Knight #3
1 – Almost a complete game for the Golden Knights
Getting a goal right off the opening faceoff virtually set the tone for the Golden Knights. Everything was clicking from the offense, defense, special teams and goaltending. These are the games that the Golden Knights are supposed to win. Getting a win off a division rival. Check. Getting a win off a lower tiered team. Check.
2 – Everyone in the line up is contributing
We are only three games into the season and it is a fantastic sign of things to come this season. No matter where you look on the stat sheet and on film, the Golden Knights are looking like a committed group determined to make the previous season a major afterthought. Cassidy has always had a great knack at getting the best out of his young players and it is showing,
3 – The real test is coming for the Golden Knights
As much as we have enjoyed the first three games, the fact is three wins is three wins and six very valuable points towards the season total. There is no denying that. Momentum is everything in the NHL. The real test for the Golden Knights is coming with a road game against Calgary on Tuesday night followed by a trip to Winnipeg before coming home to play Colorado and Toronto. Three of the four teams in that four game slate are teams that have had Stanley Cup aspirations this season.