FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Red Wings - Game 26 - 2022

FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Red Wings – Game 26 – 2022

Franchise Sports Media

Vegas Golden Knights (18-7-1)  | Detroit Red Wings  (11-7-5)

The Golden Knights rebound on the road and get a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Jack Eichel, Phil Kessel, and Jonathan Marchessault do their part in edging the Wings before their big game against the Boston Bruins. 

Having a down performance against the Pittsburgh Penguins was something the Vegas Golden Knights could not bring in their future games, especially last night when the Knights stopped by Hockey town to play against the Detroit Red Wings at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI.

The Knights still have an impressive road record of 10-2-1, and improving that record on the road is something that will help in the long run for Vegas, especially when playoffs come later this season.

Logan Thompson had a career-high 46 saves in his game against Pittsburgh and needed the rest. Vegas head coach Bruce Cassidy started Adin Hill in the net.

The first period of action started fast for the Golden Knights. Just a minute and four seconds into the game, Jack Eichel scored his 13th goal of the season after tapping the puck in the net from a Chandler Stephenson pass from the crease to put Vegas on the board 1-0.

The score would remain 1-0 throughout the first period until the second period, when Jonathan Marchessault would score on a power-play goal at the 7:50 mark to extend the lead to 2-0.

The Knights were 1-for-1 on the penalty kill in the second period and played much better after having inconsistent second periods.

Getting a power play chance and, more importantly, a goal was a big boost for the Knights. Also, because it was in the second period was a big plus mark. But the penalty kill would haunt them after a hooking call on Zach Whitecloud. The power play for the Red Wings would pay off after Oskar Sundqvist scored his third goal in two games to cut the lead to one goal, 2-1. 

Vegas, unfortunately, had another penalty, this time to Phil Kessel for hooking, but the Knights would successfully stop Detroit’s chances of scoring. But right after the penalty kill, Kessel would make the “Kessel Run” for a goal after coming out of the penalty box and scoring on a breakaway with 3:28 remaining in the middle period to give Vegas a 3-1 lead. For Kessel’s goal, it was the 17th of his career against Detroit in 31 games.

The second period ended with Vegas with the lead and the momentum, something that we rarely see. During the third period, Jack Eichel left the game due to an undisclosed injury and would not return.

Despite losing their key player, the two-goal lead for the Knights would not stop there after Reilly Smith scored an empty net goal for a  4-1 final victory for the Knights.

“I thought that was a real responsible, professional road game,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “We managed the puck, took advantage of some opportunities, bent but didn’t break in some spots, got a timely power-play goal, had some good kills late, and got a few big saves.”

Moving forward, the Golden Knights remain hopeful that Jack Eichel will be in the lineup for their next game against the Boston Bruins. “If there’s one guy who wants to play in Boston on Monday, it’s Jack,” Cassidy said.

Vegas is now finally set to battle with the top-seeded Boston Bruins. This would be Bruce Cassidy’s first game in Boston since leaving to become the coach for the Vegas Golden Knights. This is a game that Vegas needs to win and prove to themselves that they are the team to heat in the NHL.

The Golden Knights will play their final road game as Bruce Cassidy returns to his former home as they face the Boston Bruins at the TD Garden in Boston, MA, on Monday. They are scheduled to drop the puck at 4:00 pm. The game can be seen on  AT&T Sports Net (channel 313 on Cox Cable) or heard on 98.9 FM, FOX Sports Las Vegas 1340 AM.