FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Kings - Game 42 - 2023

FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Kings – Game 42 – 2023

Franchise Sports Media

Vegas Golden Knights (27-13-2)  | Los Angeles Kings (23-14-6)

The Golden Knights’ 4-game home win streak ends by falling to the Los Angeles Kings, 5-1.

The Vegas Golden Knights, getting healthier by the day and maintaining a home-winning streak, were looking to extend that streak when they hosted the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena.

Jonathan Marchessault returned after missing the last six games; Logan Thompson was back in the net.

During the first period, the Knights had some pretty close shots that wouldn’t turn into goals and even a power play opportunity, but they could not capitalize on it.

With over 2 minutes left in the 1st period, the Kings struck first when Kevin Fiala scored, turning around above the high slot and scoring through a screen to put the Kings on the board first, 1-0. 

The first period ended 1-0, with LA in the lead. In the past meeting, including this game, the Kings consistently scored first. Going into the second period, Vegas was hoping counterattack but still would hold up.

Later in the second period, the Kings got on the board again after Matt Roy scored from the right circle to extend the lead for Kings 2-0.

The momentum was slowly gaining on the side of the Kings, and Vegas was starting to go through their second-period woes.

The second would still not go in the direction Vegas had intended. Kevin Fiala scored his second goal of the night after shooting five-hole from the bottom of the left circle to extend the lead even more, 3-0. The defense of LA held Vegas down to only four shots on goal in the second period.

The second period ended with the Kings again in the lead but with three goals this time.

Despite Vegas having a full roster and being healthy, the Golden Knights could not generate any shots on offense. More importantly, the puck possession was a problem as well.

In the third period, about 5 minutes in, Vegas gave up another goal to the Kings, this time when Viktor Arvidsson scored after the puck deflected in off his chest as he went towards for the rebound of Sean Walker’s shot to make the score now 4-0 in favor of LA. 

With about a few minutes left in the third period, Vegas head coach Bruce Cassidy pulled Logan Thompson and replaced him with Adin Hill.

With just seconds left in the third, Kevin Fiala scored an empty net goal, getting a hat trick, his third goal of the night to increase the score to 5-1.

Takeaways

The game ended with a 5-1 victory for the Los Angeles Kings, as they are now 4 points behind the Knights for first place in the Pacific Division. The Kings also ended the Knights’ four-game home winning streak and three-game overall win streak.

“It should be a rival,” Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. “It was probably the most disappointing game of the year for us when I look at our competitiveness from top to bottom.”

On Thursday, the Golden Knights will remain at The Fortress as they take on the Florida Panthers at T-Mobile Arena. They are scheduled to drop the puck at 7:00 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.