FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Canucks - Game 71 - 2023

FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Canucks – Game 71 – 2023

Franchise Sports Media

Vegas Golden Knights (44-21-6)  | Vancouver Canucks  (31-34-5)

 

Jonathan Quick sets a career milestone and helps the Golden Knights cruise past the Vancouver Canucks, 4-3. 

The Golden Knights vs Canucks start of the first period.

Playing on the road has not been a problem for the Vegas Golden Knights, as they got their fifth straight road win defeating the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 at Rogers Arena.

It was a total team effort from Vegas to help capture the win. Reilly Smith and Phil Kessel scored in the first period, followed by Teddy Blueger and Pavel Dorofeyev to seal the win.

“We were ready, for sure,” Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. “And we made some plays and capitalized… and we scored goals on the forecheck. We created offense off the rush. We took what was there.”

Jonathan Quick also played a significant role in the win. He finished the game with 31 saves and got his 375th regular-season win as a starter, surpassing John Vanbiesbrouck for second place in league history for U.S.-born goalies.

Jonathan Quick is 5-1-0 since being acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 2.

“You think about some of the guys that are at the top of that list, and being in a category with them, it’s just an honor,” Quick said. “And obviously, you think about all the guys that kind of helped me get a bunch of those wins and the work they put in, and you are just very appreciative of everything.”

The win for the Golden Knights puts them two points ahead of the Los Angeles Kings for first place in the Pacific Division, but the division remains tight as the season winds down

“Would I call it our best game? No, maybe not,” Vegas defenseman Alex Pietrangelo said. “Was it perfect? No. It usually isn’t on the road, but we found a way to win it, and that’s been kind of the recipe for us. We’d love to play the perfect game, but we’re just finding ways to win and having contributions up and down the lineup.”

The Canucks almost made it a close game, pulling within a goal. J.T. Miller scored twice, with one of the goals on a penalty shot. The Canucks are 7-2-0 in their last nine games.

“You’re playing against one of the better teams, and you’ve got to be prepared to play,” Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet said. “I don’t think we were ready for it. We had three or four guys that weren’t playing to our identity, and I think (we) struggled.”

The Golden Knights vs Canucks end of the first period.

Vegas took immediate control in the first period after Phil Kessel and Reilly Smith each scored for a 2-0 lead. 

The Golden Knights vs Canucks start of the second and third periods.

After the penalty shot from J.T. Miller due to a slashing call, Teddy Blueger extended the lead 3-1 after his shot deflected off of Vancouver goalie Thatcher Demko’s pad.

The second period got really interesting as the Canucks scored again on a power play goal from Miller to cut the lead to 3-2.

Pavel Dorofeyev made his presence felt as he scored to put Vegas up again 4-2. The goal by Dorofeyev was his fourth since being called up from the Henderson Silver Knights of the AHL.

“When different guys are contributing, everyone is feeling good about themselves, and that obviously leads to them playing better,” Blueger said. “That’s important for us for sure. It’s good not to have to rely on a couple of guys or one line.”

Despite the Canucks scoring in the third to make it 4-3, Jonathan Quick’s performance in the third period making 14 saves and making a blocker stop with 35 seconds left, helped Vegas to secure the game for a 4-3 victory.

The Golden Knights have now improved to 22-7-5 on the road, matching the franchise record for road wins set in 2017-18.

The Golden Knights vs Canucks final score was 4-3, Vegas.

On Thursday, the Golden Knights will remain on the road when they play against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome. The puck drops at 6:00 pm. 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.