FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Coyotes - Game 48 - 2023

FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Coyotes – Game 48 – 2023

Franchise Sports Media

Vegas Golden Knights (29-17-2)  | Arizona Coyotes  (15-27-5)

 

The Golden Knights continue to struggle as they drop to the Arizona Coyotes 4-1. Vegas has lost 4 out of their last five games.

 

Despite the Golden Knights getting a win and turning things around the other night against the Washington Capitals, Vegas has been struggling as of late. After their dominant win over the Capitals, the Knights went on the road to play against the Arizona Coyotes at Mullen Arena.

This is the first time the Knights played against the Coyotes on the road in Mullen Arena.

One thing that has been off with the Knights is how they start games by giving up the first goal early in the first periods. This game against Arizona was no different.

Almost 2 minutes into the first period, Arizona started the game off with a goal when Dylan Guenther scored by firing a one-timer glove side from the left circle to put the Coyotes on the board 1-0.

The first period remained 1-0 in favor of the Coyotes despite the Knights outshooting the Coyotes in the first period.

 

The Knights controlled the first period offensively, outshooting the Coyotes despite being down by one goal.

 

Vegas was hoping to turn things around in the second period, but it did not turn out that way. About 1:39 into the second period, the Coyotes struck again when Clayton Keller scored by curling up and scoring from the edge of the right circle past Logan Thompson to extend the lead for the Coyotes 2-0.

Being down by two goals was something the Knights were not expecting, but almost midway in the second period, the Knights got a good sign by getting on the power play when Arizona’s Patrik Nemeth got called for a tripping call.

The power-play opportunity was something Vegas needed, and it paid off nicely when Phil Kessel scored a power-play goal by shooting from the left circle to put the Knights on the board 2-1. With almost 3 minutes left in the second, the Knights were once again on the power play with an opportunity to tie the game but did not capitalize on it as the second ended with the Coyotes still in the lead.

In the third period, the Knights needed to turn the tempo around and fast. Still, just over 8 minutes into the third period, the Coyotes were controlling the tempo. Then Clayton Keller scored his second goal of the night after an extended offensive shift when Juuso Valimaki passed the puck to Nick Schmaltz, who then passed it to a wide-open Keller at the left hash marks to extend the lead for the Coyotes 3-1.

The Knights were down by two goals again. Offensively the Knights were getting some good opportunities but could not get any pucks in the net. With about 5 minutes left in the third, Logan Thompson was pulled for an extra Vegas attacker can join in.

Thompson getting pulled was an empty net opportunity for the Coyotes. Arizona capitalized when Clayton Keller scored his third goal of the night, getting himself a Hat Trick by scoring an empty net goal to extend the lead again for the Coyotes 4-1. 

Despite Vegas‘ efforts on offense, they could not do enough as the Knights lost 4-1 to the Coyotes.

“What should have happened today is we should have been better defensively,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said, “so you don’t put so much pressure on yourself because you are still winning even though you are not scoring.

“It could have easily been a 1-1, 2-1 game if we protect the slot.”

With the loss, the Golden Knights have lost 4 out of their last five games.

 

Takeaway

 

Logan Thompson had 19 saves, and William Karlsson got his 200th career assist.

 

On Tuesday, the Golden Knights will continue their road trip as they head to the east coast to take on the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center. They are scheduled to drop the puck at 4:30 pm. The game can be seen on  AT&T SportsNet (channel 313 on Cox Cable) and ESPN + or heard on 98.9 FM, FOX Sports Las Vegas 1340 AM.