FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Blackhawks - Game 57 - 2023

FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Blackhawks – Game 57 – 2023

Franchise Sports Media

Vegas Golden Knights (34-18-5)  | Chicago Blackhawks  (19-32-5)

 

Out of character, Vegas blows a late lead and loses on the road to the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 in a shootout.

The Golden Knights vs Blackhawks took place on Tuesday night.

According to the Webster-Merriam Dictionary, the definition of oddity is “an odd person, thing, event, or trait.”

There was nothing short of an odd National Hockey League game between one of the hottest teams in the league (the Vegas Golden Knights) and one of the worst (the Chicago Blackhawks).

But that’s how the Golden Knights blew a lead for the third time this season, as they allowed Chicago’s Tyler Johnson to tie the game 2-2 with 55 seconds left in the third period.

After a scoreless overtime, Johnson would net the only shootout goal to give the Blackhawks a 3-2 win.

But it was an oddly uncharacteristic penalty by Alex Pietrangelo. He was sent to the penalty box for a delay of game with a puck over the glass.

The Blackhawks would also pull their goalie Petr Mazrek for a two-man advantage.

“We did that the other night. That’s on us,” Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy said. “You’ve got to manage it a little better, the time and the score, situationally hockey…it’s veteran guys who have to manage it better in those situations. First period you get it, but late in the game, you just have to bear down.”

The victory could be arguably Chicago’s best performance, and it prevented a season sweep by the Golden Knights.

It’s also the third time Vegas lost in 2022-23 when they’ve had a lead heading into the third period. The Golden Knights are now 22-3-1 on the season.

Even more bizarre was the Golden Knights, a team that’s played great defense in home games this season, allowing Johnson’s late goal. It was only the second power-play goal for the Blackhawks in their last 15 games.

The Golden Knights vs Blackhawks was a great game.

Given the injuries to the goaltending staff with the Golden Knights, Cassidy sent out Laurent Brossoit in net against the Blackhawks.

The Golden Knights vs Blackhawks had an epic ending.

Brossoit made 37 saves through the overtime period in his first start in over a year.

Brossoit said he just wanted to play his game and that it felt good to be back on NHL ice.

“There were a few jitters in the first period, but I think overall, I was net positive, and there are things I couldn’t sharpen up,” he said. “There were a flurry of shots in the first and second period, and that’s when I thought I was the most comfortable in the game and feeling good.”

The Golden Knights are dealing with Adin Hill’s lower-body injury. He’s day-to-day after winning four straight starts for Vegas. He was injured in Saturday’s 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

To mend those goaltending woes, Vegas recalled Michael Hutchinson from the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights to back up Brossoit against the Blackhawks.

All-Star starter Logan Thompson is now week-to-week with a lower-body injury. He suffered that in a win against Minnesota on Feb. 9, shortly after the All-Star Break.

Cassidy said Brossoit’s performance was very good for his first start of the season.

“He gave us a chance to win. The goals that beat him were good shots, and he made some good saves when we broke down in front of him,” Cassidy said. “Especially early on, getting tested there. Guys are getting behind us. You know, we didn’t play a very respectful game at all.”

The Golden Knights vs Blackhawks was a game you should not have missed. 

Three minutes into the game, the Golden Knights Keegan Kolesar netted his sixth goal of the year to give Vegas an early 1-0.

Patrick Kane ended the Golden Knights vs Blackhawks game with an incredible shot.

“It was all on my linemates,” Kolesar said. “I just had to keep my stick on the ice and put it in the net.”

The game was nearly decided in overtime when veteran and Blackhawks legend Patrick Kane found himself on a breakaway with four seconds left.

Kane lasered a slapshot past Brossoit as time expired in the overtime period. However, after further review by officials, the goal was called off.

Patrick Kane’s buzzer beater in overtime with 0.1 seconds left is taken away. Man. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/s9g1hyB6y5

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) February 22, 2023

Brossoit did block Kane in the shootout after what appeared to be the same move that he used earlier in the game.

“With (Kane), nothing really surprises me,” Brossoit said. “But I was a little bit more ready for it this time.”

Many familiar with the league and Chicago have speculated that this might be Kane’s last home game with the Blackhawks.

Kane helped the Blackhawks win Stanley Cup Championships in 2010, 2013, and 2015.

Despite the loss, the Golden Knights are 5-0-2 in their last seven games.

“If we’re not going to play to our strengths or manage the puck well, they are going to feed right into their game, and we did that at times,” Kolesar said. “(Laurent) was huge for us tonight, the score could’ve been completely different, and he had some key saves.”

 Jack Eichel scored his 18th goal in the second period to give the Golden Knights a 2-1 lead.

The Golden Knights vs Blackhawks game ended with Chicago winning 3-2.

The Golden Knights return home to face the Calgary Flames on Thursday at T-Mobile Arena. The puck drop is at 6 p.m. The game can be seen on AT&T SportsNet (channel 313 on Cox Cable) or heard on 98.9 FM, FOX Sports Las Vegas 1340 AM.