FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Bruins - Game 29

FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Bruins – Game 29

Franchise Sports Media

Golden Knights (19-11)  |  Boston Bruins (14-9-2)

 

The Vegas Golden Knights took care of business Tuesday night and defeated the Boston Bruins 4-1.

 

The Vegas Golden Knights have now outscored their opponents 11-2 in their last two road games. Max Pacioretty scored two goals, Reilly Smith reached 400 career NHL points, and Robin Lehner stopped 23 of 24 shots.

The Bruins were without Craig Smith and Brad Marchand Tuesday night as they were placed in COVID-19 protocols before the game. Nicolas Roy was a late scratch for the Golden Knights, and Brett Howden drew into the lineup as a result.

For most of the game, the Bruins had little to nothing in offense. Lehner was not tested much by the Bruins offense in the first two periods.

Former Golden Knight Erik Haula had a couple of good chances, and Charlie Coyle got a partial break, but other than that, the Bruins offense was non-existent.

 

Their home crowd booed the Bruins coming off the ice in the second period.

 

The Golden Knights controlled most of the offensive zone chances, and they got their first goal from Shea Theodore. With a bit of puck luck, Theodore’s shot from the point hit Derek Forbort in the back and went in to make it 1-0 Golden Knights.

After a career-high four-point game, Chandler Stephenson continued his stellar season with a great stretch pass to Max Pacioretty. Pacioretty then went in and scored once more, his eleventh goal of the season in just eleven games. This marks seven straight games in which Pacioretty has scored since returning from injury, a Golden Knights record.

The Golden Knights got a bit more puck luck in the dying seconds of the first period on the powerplay. The Golden Knights have scored on three-straight powerplay attempts for the first time this season.

 

Jonathan Marchessault’s intended pass hit a pair of Bruins and found the back of the net to make it 3-0. The goal came with just 0.4 seconds left in the first period.

 

This game essentially boiled down to the Golden Knights being the better and luckier team. Two of the Golden Knights‘ goals were greatly helped by some added puck luck. But the Vegas also showed just how talented they are in their quick transition game.

This continued in the second period as the first line of Mark Stone, Chandler Stephenson, and Max Pacioretty combined yet again for another goal. Pacioretty scored his second of the night and 12th goal of the season in just 11 games.

Many people are pinning Jack Eichel up as the Golden Knights‘ future first-line center once he comes back from injury. But with the current success of Stephenson, Stone, and Pacioretty, it will be hard for Peter DeBoer to shuffle up the lines.

Stephenson has had seven assists in the last two games.

The Bruins finally found a tad bit of offense to start the third period. Patrice Bergeron ruined Lehner’s shutout bid as he buried home a nice pass from Taylor Hall in the slot.

Nonetheless, the Golden Knights were able to close things out in the third period against the Bruins. They are now 12-0 this season when leading after two periods.

 

The Golden Knights will drop the puck on Thursday at 4:00 pm against when they take on the New York Rangers at MSG. The game can be seen on AT&T SportsNet.