FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Panthers - Game 43 - 2023

FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Panthers – Game 43 – 2023

Franchise Sports Media

Vegas Golden Knights (28-13-2)  | Florida Panthers (19-20-4)

 

The Golden Knights mount a comeback late in the third period, as Vegas defeats the Florida Panthers, 4-2.

 

The Golden Knights needed to bounce back from their 5-1 loss against the Los Angeles Kings in what Vegas Head coach Bruce Cassidy called “probably the most disappointing game of the year.” With the Kings getting closer and closer to first place in the Pacific Division, the Knights needed to regroup fast as they hosted the Florida Panthers at T-Mobile Arena. 

Adin Hill was in the net, and Cassidy always likes setting the tone starting his 4th line in the beginning games, the 4th line consisting of William Carrier, Keegan Kolesar, and Nicolas Roy.

Just two minutes into the first period, the Panthers went on the board first after Nick Cousins was awarded a goal after a scramble in front that knocked the net off its moorings. Following a review initiated by the NHL Situation Room, officials ruled the net came loose due to Golden Knights defenseman Ben Hutton knocking Florida’s Eric Staal into the net which awarded Cousins the goal and giving the Panthers the lead 1-0.

It was not the way the Knights wanted to start, but the score 1-0 remained the same throughout the entire first period. But midway in the first period, Vegas’ luck once again turned bad when Golden Knights captain Mark Stone left the game with an upper-body injury. 

The first period, ended 1-0 with the Panthers in the lead; the tempo did not seem to be in the favor of the Knights after an awarded goal and worst of all losing Mark Stone.

 

Despite the start in the first period, Vegas would answer back fast in the second period. 

 

About four minutes into the second period, the Knights finally got things going and got on the board after Nicolas Roy scored from the right face-off circle after Keegan Kolesar picked off a turnover from Florida to tie the game 1-1.

“It was a broken play there,” Roy said. “The puck went over the [defenseman’s] stick there. ‘Koley’ made an awesome play to my backdoor. I pretty much had an empty net there, so it was a nice pass. … We’re feeling good about our game.”

But just midway in the second period, the Panthers struck again after Sam Reinhart scored a power play to give the Panthers back the lead of 2-1. The goal came after Adin Hill lost his stick stopping a drive by Sam Bennett, and Reinhart scored from the slot before Hill could get it back.

Just like in the first period, the second period ended with the Panthers with the lead.

During the first few minutes into the third period, the Knights suffered two penalties one on Nicolas Roy for high sticking and the second on Alex Pietrangelo for tripping. Both penalties resulted in a 5-on-3 power play for the Panthers.

It was a bad situation, but the situation turned out good in the end as the Vegas penalty kill unit was able to hold off the Florida scorers. But just about a few minutes later, Vegas caught another break when Jack Eichel scored five-hole on a breakaway, his 15th goal of the year to tie the game 2-2.

The game was deadlocked and tied throughout the game until about 2:36 left in the third when William Carrier scored to give the Knights a lead for the first time 3-2.  After Carrier drove to the net and tipped in a Keegan Kolesar centering pass. The Panthers challenged for goalie interference, but the video review confirmed that Florida defenseman Brandon Montour caused Carrier to collide with Sergei Bobrovsky just before the goal.

The Knights finally had the lead, but a one-goal lead was not good enough when William Karlsson scored an empty net power play goal to extend the lead and give the Knights the victory 4-2.

 

Takeaway

 

Adin Hill ended the night with 37 saves, and Nicolas Roy has five points (three goals, two assists) on a four-game point streak. The victory for Vegas was the Golden Knights’ NHL-leading eighth come-from-behind victory this season

 

On Saturday, the Golden Knights will remain at The Fortress as they take on the Edmonton Oilers 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.