FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Sharks - Game 75 - 2023

FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Sharks – Game 75 – 2023

Franchise Sports Media

Vegas Golden Knights (46-22-7)  | San Jose Sharks  (21-39-15)

The Vegas Golden Knights clinch a playoff birth but fall to the San Jose Sharks in OT, 4-3. 

The Golden Knights vs Sharks start of the first period.

The day started well for the Vegas Golden Knights, as they clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs before their matchup with Pacific Division rival San Jose Sharks.

Vegas became the first Western Conference team to clinch a playoff spot after the Nashville Predators lost 2-0 at the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“It’s obviously great to clinch a playoff spot,” Golden Knights forward Nicolas Hague said. “We got our foot in the door there now. We’ve got some huge games coming up to try and solidify a [top seed]. We’ve got teams in the West and a couple of big games against divisional teams to try to separate ourselves, and hopefully, we can kind of have a say in who we end up playing.”

Despite clinching a playoff birth, the Golden Knights lost in overtime against the Sharks, 4-3. But Vegas is still in first place in the Pacific Division ahead of the Edmonton Oilers, now in second place after defeating the Los Angeles Kings.

“Clinched a playoff spot, so checked that box off. Now we want to try to win the next thing, which was a game in front of us, and we looked out of sorts a lot of the night,” Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. “They put some pressure on us. They were skating well. Reloading well. [It] was probably one of our poor nights executing.”

Nicolas Hague, Ivan Barbashev, and Michael Amadio each scored for the Golden Knights. Vegas goaltender Laurent Brossoit made 20 saves.

Logan Couture scored the game-winning goal 50 seconds into overtime on a breakaway to give the Sharks the win.

“I thought for most of that game, we were the better team,” said Couture, the San Jose captain. “We played extremely hard. We played smart. We played good hockey.”

The Golden Knights vs Sharks end the first period.

The Sharks took a 2-1 lead after one period of play. Shots were 6-5 in favor of the Sharks. 

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

Vegas tied the game 2-2 minutes into the second period after Ivan Barbashev scored on a power play.

But the Sharks retook the lead 3-2 after a goal from Thomas Hertl, scoring off a redirection from Martin Kaut.

Michael Amadio tied the game 3-3 in the third period off a rebound to get his 14th goal of the season.

“Well, we shortened the bench. I mean, just sometimes, that’s what it takes. A different line. And guys, maybe they’re stale or whatever, with who they’re playing with, or whatnot. And that shouldn’t happen,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “But that’s a mental mindset that sometimes you put yourself into, and you gotta get yourself out, and I thought this was going to be all about a mental challenge.”

Despite losing in overtime, the Golden Knights gained a point, with over seven games left; Vegas is determined to gain momentum and looking forward to making a push in the playoffs later the regular season ends.

“I mean, we’re playing for home advantage right now. Every team wants that, so we’re gonna stay focused here for the remaining seven games,” Golden Knights’ forward William Karlsson said.

The Golden Knights vs Sharks final score was 7-4, Edmonton.

On Thursday, the Golden Knights will play against the San Jose Sharks at T-Mobile Arena. The puck drops at 7:30 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.