Victory in Calgary comes at a cost

The Golden Knights came off the win over Vancouver with a chance for redemption on the Calgary Flames. The game featured the return of Logan Thompson in net and Reilly Smith riding a nine game point streak but in the end, both Smith and Thompson exited the game with injuries. As Thompson left in the third, Jonathan Quick came on in relief to slam the door shut on the Flames at the Saddledome in Calgary. After the game, it was revealed that both Smith and Thompson will be unavailable for Saturday’s game against Edmonton.

Marchessault, Amadio get two quick goals

The first period began with Kessel getting the first official shot on goal with 2:30 gone by and the majority of the first four minutes was spent inside the Vegas offensive zone. Calgary was held shotless until a Blake Coleman shot was saved by Thompson at the 4:15 mark. Zach Whitecloud got a shot that landed on the post and saved by Jacob Markstrom with 14:20 left.

Nic Roy won his first faceoff in his return to the lineup with 13:47 left. The Golden Knights would get a power play off an interference call against Brett Howden called on Troy Stecher exactly two minutes later. Calgary managed to limit the VGK to just one shot on the man advantage.

On a three on one, Jonathan Marchessault scored with 9:17 left to give the Golden Knights a 1-0 lead. The goa was Marchessault’s 23rd goal of the season and was assisted by Eichel and Pietrangelo. Less than a minute later, Michael Amadio would score a goal to make it a two goal lead in favor of the Golden Knights. It is Amadio’s 12th goal of the season.

Teddy Blueger got called for holding the stick with 4:20 left in the period, giving the Flames their first power play of the game. With the Flames on the power play, Andrew Mangiapane thought he got a goal but it was reviewed and taken off the board. After the penalty expired, the Flames would finally get on the board on a Milan Lucic goal getting the Flames to within one. It was Lucic’s sixth goal of the season.

Golden Knights 2, Flames 1 – 1st Intermission

The Breakdown…

Overall the Golden Knights got what they wanted out of the first period. While the shots on goal are virtually even between the two teams, it felt like the Golden Knights were in the offensive zone for most of the period. Great to see Thompson back in net and Nic Roy also contributing. After the Amadio goal, the Golden Knights offense seem to take a step back.

Flames put the Golden Knights offense on ice

At the 35 second mark, Eichel nearly got a goal but Markstrom was there to make the stop. Mackenzie Weegar got the next major shot off of the period with 15>09 left in the period but Thompson was able to cover it. For much of the first half id the period, neither team could consistently carry momentum but Thompson and Markstrom were both playing lights out in the net. Through the first ten minutes of the period, the Golden Knights have outshot the Flames 6-3.

From the 11 to 15 minute mark the Flames got a few shots off and kept the Golden Knight defense on its toes. Thompson continued to keep the Fames off the board as they got the last six shots of the period. Golden Knights had to wait nearly 10 minutes before they got another shot on goal against Markstrom. Stephenson nearly tipped in the puck with just 30 seconds left.

Golden Knights 2, Flames 1 – 2nd Intermission

The Breakdown…

The good news is that the Golden Knights and Logan Thompson kept Calgary off the scoreboard. The bad news is that the Golden Knights could only one official shot off for over a nine minute span of the period. This is a recipe on flirting with disaster. They need to improve on this if they intend to make a deep playoff run.

Wild third period sees Quick saving the day

Chandler Stephenson and Pavel Dorofeyev got a pair of chances early in the period but Markstrom was there to make the stops. A minute later, the Flames and Mikael Backlund had Thompson scrambling for the puck but could not get the game tying goal.

With 14;41 left, Roy would get a tip in goal to make the score a 3-1 affair in favor of the Golden Knights. It is Roy’s 12th goal of the season and it was assisted by Kessel and Stephenson. Marchessault a minute later nearly made it a three goal game with an odd man rush but Markstrom was there to close the door.

The Flames knocked the net off the moorings with 11:45 left and then Thompson went to the bench to give the Golden Knights an extra attacker. The Flames thought they scored a goal but it was reviewed in the favor of the Golden Knights. The Vegas offense kept creating chances against Markstrom. With 9:03 left, Calgary got a second power play on a Shea Theodore tripping call. Nazem Kadri launched one past Thompson with 7:27 left to go to get the Flames to within one goal. It is Kadri’s 22nd goal of the season.

With 6:07 left, Thompson would leave the game with a lower body injury and Jonathan Quick would replace him off the bench. Quick was there to make two solid saves over the next minute and change. With two minutes left, Markstrom was pulled from the net to give the Flames an extra attacker. The Flames continued to attack the net and Quick came to the rescue once again as the Golden Knights held on for the victory.

Game Notes

• The win gives the Golden Knights a record of 45-21-6 with 96 points and also gives them a four point lead on the Los Angeles Kings for the Pacific Division lead.
• The win was credited to Logan Thompson who stopped 37 of 39 shots. Jonathan Quick, in relief, stopped all five shots he faced in the latter part of the third period.
• Vegas completes a three game Canadian Western road trip at Edmonton Oilers on Saturday evening.
• If the season ended after the day’s activity, the Golden Knights would draw the Winnipeg Jets in the first round of the playoffs. The Central Division leading Dallas Stars would get the Seattle Kraken in the first round.

Want your voice heard? Join the Vegas Hockey Knight team!

Write for us!