FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Avalanche- Game 48

VGK wasted no time getting ahead as William Karlsson scored just ten seconds into the game. Alex Pietrangelo found him breaking into the offensive zone, where he was able to gain speed before beating Devin Dubnyk with a backhand shot. Vegas was given two powerplays in a row in the following four minutes after Liam O’Brien took a hooking call and Pierre Edward Bellemare took a tripping call two minutes later but were unable to convert on either chance.

With 6:17 remaining, Colorado tied the game up after Devon Toews scored, following up a rebound shot from Carl Soderburg. Both teams traded powerplay chances in the final five minutes, but the penalty kill units for both teams prevented the other from scoring any more goals as time expired. Colorado led in shots 12-11 in the first twenty minutes as the game went to intermission.

After an evenly played first period, the Golden Knights were able to pull ahead in the middle frame and finally capitalized with the man advantage.

Vegas had to play shorthanded just nine seconds into the period after Reilly Smith was called for hooking against Samuel Girard, but the penalty kill unit held firm to keep the game tied. Samuel Girard took a penalty of his own with 10:38 remaining for holding on Reilly Smith, and VGK was able to cash in on the ensuing powerplay. Just fourteen seconds in, Max Pacioretty gave his team the lead again as he scored from far outshooting the puck from the left boards as it tipped Dubnyk’s stick and went in, giving the Knights a 2-1 lead. 

Captain Mark Stone scored his team’s third goal of the night five minutes later as he banked the puck in from behind the net, following it up with an emotional celebration which we have seen so much this year. About two and a half minutes later, Ryan Graves pulled his team within one after receiving a pass from Nathan Mackinnon at the top of the left circle before beating Fleury. The Avs were given a chance to tie the game up with 1:35 remaining after Zach Whitecloud was called for slashing against Nazeem Kadri and went into the intermission with 25 seconds left on the man advantage. 

After letting the Avalanche back into the game at the end of the second period, Vegas pulled away in the third, scoring less than a minute into pad their lead.

After successfully killing off the remaining time left in the Avs powerplay, Max Pacioretty scored just 55 seconds into the final frame to put his team up 4-2. He and Mark Stone entered the zone with a two on one and Pacioretty beat Dubnyk cleanly with a wrist shot after receiving a pass from the captain. With 12:26 remaining, Colorado was given one last powerplay but could not convert as the Knights penalty kill unit was perfect on the night. 

Jonathan Marchessault scored an empty netter with 1:19 remaining to ice the game as Vegas went on to win their tenth game in a row and remain first in the standings in the NHL. It was the 18th time this year that VGK has scored five goals in a game, and they have outscored opponents 45-17 in their last ten games.

Looking Forward: 

 

Vegas will play their next two games in a row against the Arizona Coyotes, who are trying to get back to the final playoff spot after being overtaken by the St. Louis Blues. The Yotes have just six games remaining and are three points out of the playoff picture so expect them to play desperate as time is running out for them in their final playoff push. VGK is 5-1 against Arizona this year, with their only loss coming on the road against them back in January in a 5-2 loss and are 13-5 in their all-time regular-season record.

The Vegas Golden Knights will resume play Friday evening against The Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena. The puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. and will be on AT&T Sportsnet and FOX Sports Las Vegas 98.9/1340.

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-D.J. Wood– Franchise Sports Media

Follow D.J. on Twitter @DJwoody97

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