Remember when the Vegas Golden Knights had the wackiest comeback win against the San Jose Sharks? It involved a goaltender not tending the goal (say that three times to summon Steve Dangle) and Jack Eichel scoring from the blue line.
Ah, hockey. The game can be the funniest sport at times.
Ironically, the Golden Knights had a quieter win over the Calgary Flames, 4-2. After finding themselves down after the first period, 2-0, Vegas scored four unanswered goals to secure its first regulation win of the season. No overtime. No shootouts. Just two points to get back on the winning track.
Breathe in. Breathe out. Get yourself a glass of water while you're at it.
The Golden Knights are 2-0-2 on the season, while Calgary falls to 1-3-0. Vegas has six points on the season, while the Flames only have two. The win was big in many ways, capping off a surprisingly successful three-game road trip. The Golden Knights went 2-0-1 on the trip before they head back to T-Mobile Arena for Thursday's game against the Boston Bruins.
But there are some takeaways from this comeback win. One particular player stood out and won the game for Vegas (and no, it isn't Eichel we're talking about since he's accustomed to doing this). Let's look at Tuesday's quality win over the Flames and see what went down.
What I liked about the Vegas Golden Knights against the Calgary Flames
When Adin Hill suffered a lower-body injury in the first period, he didn't return for the game. In stepped Akira Schmid, who looked strong for the Golden Knights.
He looked comfortable in the net, stopping 19 of 19 shots. While the defensive units continue to lack any bite, the Swiss netminder provided stability when Vegas lost its starting goaltender.
I also liked Kaedan Korczak in this game. He pounced on a loose puck near the slot and tied the game for his first goal. He was also a lone bright spot defensively, registering four hits and two blocked shots. Watch for him during the season, especially if he has similar performances like tonight.
Of course, there's Jack Eichel, too. The Golden Knights are starting to see a scoring side from the elite center after he scored two goals (and seven shots, people!), including a controversial second goal where he pushed the puck into Dustin Wolf's pad. He has four goals on the season, proving he can score when called upon to shoot.
What wasn't working for the Golden Knights against the Flames?
Once again, the Golden Knights looked flat in the first period. Aside from Adin Hill suffering a lower-body injury from a freak accident, Calgary got two goals from Blake Coleman and Mikael Backlund. With Hill possibly being out, it's time for Vegas to fix their first-period woes before it's too late.
Imagine putting yourself in a 2-0 hole against the Florida Panthers or the Dallas Stars. Those teams won't let you back into the game. That's where the Golden Knights must be careful. If they do this during the Stanley Cup playoffs, it's over, Johnny.
On that note, turnovers continue to be a concern. The Golden Knights had trouble with making exits in the first period, leading to both goals. That must change for Bruce Cassidy's squad, especially if you're looking to win a Stanley Cup.