An unexpected contributor propels a late comeback, but the Golden Knights ultimately fall to Dallas in the shootout

Well, that sure was something. In a game marked by the highest of highs and the lowest of lows just one period apart, the Golden Knights fell 5-4 in a shootout to the hated Dallas Stars. It's a bit of a gut-punch considering today's earlier news that we'll see them next year in the Stadium Series. That said, it wasn't all bad at least.

If you told me after the second period that we'd somehow escape with a point despite trailing 4-1, I'd happily take it, and that's exactly what happened. Though the comeback couldn't quite finish the job, let's take a look at how Vegas was able to salvage yet another loser point from the jaws of a regulation loss.

Don't let Keegan Kolesar get hot(ish)

Believe it or not, after a long dry spell to start the season, Goalesar is starting to heat up dramatically. Thursday marked the fourth goal in eight games for the fourth-line grinder, and the second multi-point game in his last seven. It was a heck of a goal, too; with Vegas trailing 1-0 entering the 2nd, the puck took a weird bounce off the boards, and suddenly, Kolesar was all alone in front of Jake Oettinger.

Unfortunately, it was also his attempted-pass turnover that directly led to Dallas' second goal. However, he redeemed himself later on to start the comeback; after forcing a turnover in the defensive zone, Kolesar sprung himself and Reilly Smith on a shorthanded 2-on-1, with Smith potting Kolesar's cross-ice pass for VGK's first shorty in a while.

That would ultimately be followed by two more third-period goals, including a clutch long-distance snipe by Mitch Marner, to send the game to OT, despite having trailed 4-1 entering the period. Not bad, especially for a depth guy in Kolesar, and an allegedly "anti-clutch" player in Marner.

Adin Hill needs fixing, badly

On to the uglier part of the night. I don't know how else to say it: Adin Hill has been bad since his return, nearly to the point of unplayability. In his first start since a 7-goal certified disasterclass against Ottawa, Hill allowed four goals on his first 18 shots faced, with the first one coming on an especially bad play which saw him way out of the net for reasons unexplained.

Though he played somewhat well in the third period and overtime, he followed that up with two brutal whiffs in the shootout, allowing Jason Robertson and Mikko Rantanen to score with ease.

Not exactly the goalie company one wants to be in, but given Hart's presence on the list, it's familiar territory for Vegas this year. At this point, I'm of the idea that either he's not playing healthy, or he's lost his confidence, or maybe both.

If it's the latter, I don't see why a possible waiving and demotion to the AHL for a confidence-building stint should be out of the question; he's unlikely to be claimed with that contract, and Carl Lindbom is more than capable of filling in for a few games.

Anyways, Cassidy needs to figure out how to get these guys somewhat competent at the shootout. Did you know we've won exactly one all year? I know it's gimmick hockey that doesn't matter in the playoffs, but still, those extra points would be quite nice right now.

Coming up, two back-to-backs before we enter the Olympic break. Let's hope the boys can salvage enough points to stay in 1st until then.