Have you ever felt like you've seen the same thing happen again in a short period? It's like life is trying to tell you something, whether it's to let go of the love interest you're chasing or to stop spending money on pump and dump meme coints. By the way, does anybody know what happened to the "Hawk Tuah" girl?
Anyway, the Vegas Golden Knights had that episode on Thursday, losing to the Columbus Blue Jackets in overtime, 2-1. It was a similar script followed on Tuesday when Vegas lost to the Dallas Stars in overtime. The only difference was there were three goals on Thursday instead of seven.
Tomas Hertl got the party started with his 20th goal in the first period. It was also his 11th straight game scoring a point. Of course, he'd get a penalty with 6:12 left in the period for high-sticking Damon Severson. The good news? The Golden Knights killed the penalty. The bad news? They let a trickling puck slip past Ilya Samsonov with 1:26 left in the period. Bruce Cassidy better talk sternly with his team about playing a full 60 minutes every game.
The second period was uneventful and boring aside from a potential goal from Ivan Barbashev waved off by goaltender interference, with neither team scoring a goal. The shots after two periods were in favor of the Golden Knights, 19-14. Mark Stone and Barbashev nearly had a tic-tac-toe goal that wasn't reined in during the third period. Of course, it took overtime like Tuesday's game to decide this contest.
That's when an Alex Pietrangelo turnover led to a breakaway where Ilya Samsonov saved two shots. However, the netminder couldn't save the third as Cole Sillinger buried home the game-winner. Sometimes, life can feel like an episode of deja vu (Groundhog Day is coming up, after all). The Golden Knights got a point from the affair but fell to 31-15-6 with 68 points. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets improved to 25-19-7 on the season with 57 points.
What's next for the Vegas Golden Knights and Columbus Blue Jackets?
Thursday's game was the last home contest at T-Mobile Arena before the 4 Nations Face-Off festivities begin. The Vegas Golden Knights will head to New York to take on the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The puck drops on Sunday, February 2, at 3:00 PM PST. That game also kicks off a four-game road trip where the Golden Knights will face four straight Eastern Conference opponents away from Las Vegas.
The Columbus Blue Jackets will take on the Utah Hockey Club on Friday, with the puck dropping at 6:00 PM PST. That will be the second of a four-game road trip for the Blue Jackets, who'll face pesky Wyatt Johnston and the Dallas Stars on Sunday, followed by the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday. Their next home game? February 6, when they take on the hockey club.
There seems to be a stamina problem with the Golden Knights right now. The team looks tired as the game progresses, leading to teams breaking them down defensively. Don't tell their wives this, though. Otherwise, they'll be disappointed by the end result.
Anyways, the 4 Nations Face-Off break can't come soon enough. It'll offer ample time for Vegas to rest up before the race for the Stanley Cup playoffs ramp up. Maybe their stamina will pick up and they'll please everyone along the way.