Golden Knights Vs. Sharks: A Rivalry As Old As Time (Sort Of)
The NHL is a sport that prides itself on iconic rivalries. Toronto/Montreal, Detroit/Chicago, and Boston/Montreal are some of the bad-blooded matchups that make the hockey world go round. But what about the Knights/Sharks rivalry?
It’s surprising because there aren’t many prominent rivalries in the Pacific. You can make the case for Calgary and Edmonton, i.e. the Battle of Alberta. However, the Flames haven’t done anything of substance for a while. Plus, it doesn’t sell well in the United States.
The same can be said for the California trifecta of San Jose, Anaheim, and Los Angeles. However, the Kings have been the only competitive team in ages. But what about Seattle/Vancouver, you say? While it’s a fun regional rivalry, it’s a new rivalry.
That’s where Vegas and San Jose come in. On December 10, the rivalry gets rekindled at T-Mobile Arena. First, we must look at the history behind the matchup, where it stands today, and what it might look like in the future.
The regular season record seems lopsided for this rivalry. San Jose has a 7-19-3 record all-time against Vegas, which seems a bit… unfair (not for Vegas fans, though). However, the playoff side tells a different story.
Believe it or not, the Knights and the Sharks have faced off more than once in the Stanley Cup playoffs. These two squared off in Vegas’s inaugural season, where Vegas was the 4-2 victor in the series. In that series, there were two overtime games. Each team got an overtime victory, with San Jose winning Game 2 (4-3 in double overtime) and Vegas winning Game 3 (4-3 in overtime).
The next season was where the rivalry took off, though. Vegas held a 3-1 series lead in the first-round matchup, coming off a dominant 5-0 victory in Game 4. Max Pacioretty led the way with two goals and two assists while Marc-Andre Fleury got the shutout. The Sharks returned the favor the next game, winning 5-2. Here’s where the story gets tricky.
The next two games were decided in overtime. Game 6 went to San Jose, where Tomas Hertl took advantage of a short-handed opportunity in the second overtime to force a decisive Game 7.
But it was an outstanding performance by Martin Jones that sealed the deal for the Sharks. Behind 58 saves, San Jose managed to escape Las Vegas with a victory, setting up a dramatic matchup. What happened next remains a cornerstone of the rivalry.
Fast forward to Game 7 of the first round between these two teams. The Knights jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third period, with goals by Pacioretty, William Karlsson, and Cody Eakin. Everything’s good for Vegas, right?
That’s where you’d be wrong. Joe Pavelski was cross-checked by Cody Eakin in the third period, leading to a five-minute major. Despite objections from the Golden Knights about the penalty, San Jose scored four consecutive power play goals.
But Vegas wouldn’t go down without a fight, with Jonathan Marchessault scoring the equalizer with 47 seconds left. Still, it wasn’t enough as Barclay Goodrow beat out Fleury for the OT game-winner for a 5-4 score. As a result, Vegas was sent packing. As for the fishies? They persevered until the Western Conference Finals, where the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the St. Louis Blues, eliminated them in six games.
Still, the aftereffects can be felt from that series. San Jose hopped on the Dallas Stars bandwagon when the Lone Star team faced Vegas in last year’s Western Conference Final. Of course, there was a reference to that past Game 7 involved, where the Golden Knights responded with a jab regarding living in the past.
Much has changed since that fateful Game 7. Ironically, that climatic game was the same season that San Jose last made the playoffs. The Bay Area team has been stuck in a rebuild since, trying to regain their glory days.
That includes this season, where the Sharks started winless in their first 11 games. Currently, they sit at an NHL-worst 18 points, still trying to recover from their slow start.
As for Vegas? Well, they’re the defending Stanley Cup champions. After destroying the Florida Panthers in last year’s Stanley Cup Final in five games, the Golden Knights picked up where they left off. Currently, they have the most points in the NHL with 41.
The cause? They won their first seven games, which is their best start in franchise history. Of course, it helps to grind out points whenever you can. But making history has them in their current position.
Still, Vegas would be wise not to discount their rivals. Rivalry games bring out the best in teams, specifically in the NHL. San Jose has also played better, getting 11 points in their last ten games. The Golden Knights must be careful to not become chum for their rivals.
NHLPP/ESPN+. Sunday, December 10, 2023. 7:00 PM PST. 8-17-2. 120. 18-5-5. 942. VGK -335
(Stats provided by StatMuse.com)