Video Credit: NHL

FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs. Sharks- Game 56

Franchise Sports Media

 

Vegas came into tonight’s game against the Sharks needing a win to still have a shot at winning the division and the President’s Trophy after losing to Colorado on Monday.

 

Golden Knights vs Sharks
Photo Credit: NHL

VGK was 7-0 this season against San Jose and looked to continue their dominance against the Sharks and did just that. Alex Pietrangelo opened up the scoring just under four minutes after the puck drop receiving the puck from Reilly Smith and backhanding it past Alexei Melnichuk to put the Knights up early. Keegan Kolesar scored about four minutes later burying a rebound from a Nic Roy shot giving his team an early 2-0 lead.

To be completely honest the Sharks looked defeated from that point on as the game seemed meaningless to them, and basically, let Vegas enforce their will throughout the night. The one area of Vegas’ game that was lacking was the powerplay as they received two in a row due to consecutive penalties by Lean Bergmann but did not score a third goal in the first period. Regardless, they went into the intermission up 2-0 and led the shot total 20-6.

 

The middle frame followed the same trend as the first with the Golden Knights scoring another two goals while failing on the powerplay.

 

Golden Knights vs Sharks
Photo Credit: TheStar.com

William Carrier scored VGK’s third goal of the night just 3:05 into the period finishing off a shot from Alex Tuch. Four minutes after the goal by Carrier, Jonathan Marchessault added a tally of his own shooting the puck short-side from the right circle after receiving a pass from Zach Whitecloud. Vegas received its third powerplay of the night just past the halfway mark after Erik Karlsson was called for holding against William Karlsson.

The special teams unit failed to score once again and while it did not have any consequence in this game, it would have been nice to see some potency as the playoffs draw nearer. Playoff hockey is typically a much lower-scoring game as competition is elevated and penalties become rare, so an effective powerplay can go a long way when playing teams like the Avalanche or Wild. The Golden Knights still finished the period leading the shot total 15-7 and up 4-0.

 

The final period of the last game of the regular season saw a new face score his first two goals as a member of VGK, as the Knights continued to outplay their divisional rivals.

 

Golden Knights vs Sharks
Photo Credit: Knights On Ice

Dylan Sikura scored his first goal as a member of VGK 4:10 into the third period firing a wrist shot from the slot past Melnichuk and in. it was the twentieth time VGK has scored five goals in a game this season. With 14:39 remaining Evander Kane was called for cross-checking against Nicolas Hague but another goal would not come until several minutes later.

Twelve minutes and sixteen seconds into the period Dylan Sikura scored his second goal of the game and second as a member of the Golden Knights. This time his shot came from inside the left circle from a great wrister attempt. I must say from what I have seen from him so far it looks like he has a chance to be a potent sniper. There were no goals the rest of the way and Marc Andre Fleury recorded his sixth shutout of the year and finished the regular season on a nine-game winning streak. VGK finished with 82 points in the standings and an 8-0 sweep against the San Jose Sharks this season.

 

Looking Forward: 

 

The Vegas Golden Knights can still win the President’s Trophy, but it would take a loss from the Colorado Avalanche tomorrow as they finish off the season against the Los Angeles Kings. Based on the Kings performance last night, that looks unlikely as they lost in embarrassing fashion by a tally of 6-0. If Colorado does win tonight, they will move up to first place in the division and claim the trophy for themselves, earning home ice throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

This would pit VGK against the Minnesota Wild in the first round, who seem to be Vegas’ kryptonite this year as they are the only team to achieve a winning record against them during this shortened season. It is unclear what date the playoffs will start as other teams finish up their respective season, but any additional time off will be welcomed as it gives Vegas a chance at getting some of their injured players back.

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-D.J. Wood– Franchise Sports Media

Follow D.J. on Twitter @DJwoody97

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