FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Sharks - Game 51

FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Sharks – Game 51

Franchise Sports Media

Golden Knights (29-19-3)  | San Jose Sharks (22-22-5)

 

The Golden Knights beat the Sharks 4-1 for the tenth straight time behind Eichel and Thompson.

The Vegas Golden Knights are back in the win column after losing three-straight games. They defeated the San Jose Sharks 4-1 at SAP Center Sunday afternoon. This is the tenth straight win against the Sharks for the Golden Knights and was also the season’s first matchup between the two rivals.

Jack Eichel scored his first goal as a member of the Golden Knights. Logan Thompson also made 35 saves on 36 shots for his first career win. There were no lineup changes for the Knights outside of Thompson getting the start. But both Zach Whitecloud and Robin Lehner are skating.

The Golden Knights scored two goals in the first period and coasted to victory, adding another goal in the second period and an empty netter. But there were points in the first period where it could have been a completely different game.

The Sharks pressured a good deal shorthanded as the Golden Knights had two early powerplay chances, including a four-minute penalty. Thompson had to be sharp on shorthanded chances from the Sharks’ Matt Nieto and Tomas Hertl.

The game’s pace quickly changed, though, as Keegan Kolesar fired a shot gaining the zone for the Golden Knights. On a shot that James Reimer would like to have back, Kolesar scored his fifth goal of the season to make it 1-0.

Jack Eichel was flying throughout Sunday evening’s game. His speed and puck handling skills were on full display as he finished the night with a goal and an assist. Midway through the first period, Eichel and Chandler Stephenson worked together, which resulted in Eichel’s first goal as a Golden Knight.

 

This was Stephenson’s first point in seven games and Eichel’s first goal since January 28th, 2021.

 

Max Pacioretty extended the Golden Knights’ lead early in the second period with a long wrist shot that slipped past Reimer. Nobody knew the puck was in except for Pacioretty, and after video review, the goal was deemed a good one.

The Golden Knights closed out the game with a solid defensive effort led by Thompson in goal. He made a big stop with the poke check on Noah Gregor to keep the Sharks scoreless in the second.

The only blunder the Golden Knights made that resulted in a goal was when Shea Theodore lost an edge and fell behind his net. This allowed Andrew Cogliano to pick up the puck and feed Nick Bonino, who scored.

Bob Boughner pulled Reimer with around two and half minutes remaining, but the Sharks failed to score as Thompson made another huge save on Logan Couture. Stephenson then scored on the empty net to make it 4-1 and ice the game.

It was quite the performance for Thompson Sunday night as he earned his first career NHL win. He looked calm and collected, and the only goal he gave up was not one in which most goaltenders would stop.

With this win in the books, the Golden Knights are presented with another gap in the schedule as their next game is not until Friday.

The Vegas Golden Knights will hit the road to Phoenix to take on the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena. They drop the puck at 6:30 pm on AT&T Sports Net.