FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Avalanche - Game 6 - 2022

FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Avalanche – Game 6 – 2022

Franchise Sports Media

Golden Knights (4-2-0)  | Colorado Avalanche (3-2-0)

The Vegas Golden Knights fight hard but fall short to the defending Stanley Cup Champions Colorado Avalanche 3-2, suffering their first home loss of the season.

Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy made a goalie change for this game, having Logan Thompson start, which would be the right decision in this tough matchup against Colorado.

Early in the first period, the Knights almost had a breakaway goal early in the game by William Carrier but were stopped by Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev. A few minutes later into the game, the Avalanche struck first from a Nathan Mackinnon one-timer goal off a feed assist pass from Cale Makar to put the Avalanche ahead 1-0.

Throughout most of the first period, the Avalanche offense seemed too much, putting on shots and pressure on the Golden Knights until they were able to get on the power play late in the period. The VGK power play paid off when Jonathan Marchessault scored a quick wrist shot goal from a backhanded pass from Mark Stone to tie the game at 1-1 to end the first period. Also, for Stone, it was his 300th career assist.

An Avalanche of problems

Going into the second period tied, the Golden Knights were looking to build off the momentum from the power play goal they scored back in the first period. But the quickness of Colorado’s offense was too much to handle. Vegas fell victim to a tripping call on Brett Howden, which resulted in a power play goal from Colorado’s Evan Rodrigues. The shot put the Avalanche back ahead by a goal 2-1.

In the middle of the second period, Colorado drew a slashing call from Mikko Rantannan, putting the VGK in a power-play position. Unfortunately, they were not able to tie the game. The Golden Knights once again found themselves with another power play opportunity from a holding call on Nathan Mackinnon. Still, they again were unable to answer from the power play opportunity. Toward the end of the second period, Brett Howden suffered a lower-body injury from a collision with Colorado’s Mikko Rantannan but would later return in the third period.

The third period seemed to be a balanced and back-and-forth affair between both teams. The Knights were putting up shots on goal at the same average as Colorado. But the Avalanche once again scored, this time from Valeri Nichushkin to make the score 3-1.

Vegas, still not giving up without a fight, cut the score deficit back to a one-goal game with a shot from Chandler Stephenson on a Mark Stone assist to make the score 3-2. 

The Golden Knights were still trying to use the momentum they felt throughout this period to tie the game and had a lot of close calls. Still, Colorado’s goaltender Georgiev played clutch, stopping the final eight shots to get the 3-2 victory. The loss is also the Golden Knights’ first home loss, but looking back, this game will be a learning tool for the VGK.

“They’re a talented hockey club. That’s why they just won the Stanley Cup, Thompson said. “It’s slow, rocky right now. This loss stings, but we’re going to go back and build off it. It’s a long season.” 

Improvements need to be made, mainly on the power play. The good news is that the line of Jack Eichel, Phil Kessel, and Riley Smith was making great shots, mostly from the zone, which is a good step in the right direction this season.

The Golden Knights will play the last game of their three-game home stand at T-Mobile Arena when they play against the Toronto Maple Leafs at 7:00 pm. The game can be seen on AT&T Sports Net.