3 Takeaways from the Golden Knights' strong 4-0 shutout of Columbus

The last time the Golden Knights have won the second game of a long road trip was a 3-2 win in Ottawa on November 21. That trip was also the last time they’ve had an above-.500 road trip that wasn’t one or two games long. After tonight’s 4-0 shutout of Columbus, that may change--and at the right time. Here are my three takeaways from a splendid night in the birthplace of Wendy’s.

79 for 9

It’s hard to believe now that this game started with Vegas going shotless for the first 12 minutes of the game. But that first shot, Nicloas Roy’s ninth of the season off a lovely passing sequence on the power play, didn’t just start to get a little bit of warmth to the Vegas offense. It also became this…

The assist from Jack Eichel boosts his points streak to seven games. At his current pace, he’s slated to finish the season with 97 points, which seems highly plausible given how brilliantly he’s been playing. Given the chaotic doom that’s swallowed up the Sabres this season, it wouldn’t surprise me if Sabres’ fans cheered whenever Eichel scored.

Adin Hill withstands big first period wave to his fourth shutout

There are two big reasons why Vegas ended up winning tonight against the Blue Jackets. The first was Adin Hill who withstood a Columbus attack that had the game’s first eight shots and 14 of the first 17 in the period. It was a reassuring return to form for Hill after Sunday night’s mess of a start against the Kings. One that provides more cushion at the tippy top of the Pacific and less of a chance to see McDavid and Draisaitl in the first round.

Now for the second reason…

Giant penalty kill late in the first omen for a quiet rest of the way

When Pavel Dorofeyev was called late in the first for the double minor for high sticking with the Golden Knights up 1-0, two words crossed my mind: “Oh boy…!” There have been plenty of examples of late goals crushing any positivity mustered in that period, and being outshot by a count of 8-1…there was the sense of history repeating itself. But this was about as perfect as this team’s been all season.

The defensive structure was sound. Hill was ready to smother any shots headed his way, though. There were even a couple of good short handed chances sprinkled in. Before you know, the penalty was over. The game would follow alongside 48 seconds later.

Not that there weren’t chances by Columbus. But you could see after that Saad goal the air slowly let out of the balloon through the course of the rest of the game for them. By Dorofeyev’s 26th goal in the second, the story looked about over.

Next on the Marquee:

It is a Saturday morning affair in Buffalo to take on the Sabres at 9:30 A.M. I don’t know why the schedule makers thought that a 10 A.M. game not on national TV made sense. But here we are. Given Buffalo’s season, this seems like it could equally be a decent game or (like Wednesday night at Detroit) a gloopy mess with a happy ending. Either way, there’s always (to those who do it) Brunch for some extra fun. Till then…