FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Sharks - Game 79

FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Sharks – Game 79

Franchise Sports Media

Golden Knights (42-31-6)  | San Jose Sharks (32-35-14)

The Golden Knights collapsed in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Sharks, putting the season on the brink.

The Vegas Golden Knights were in complete control of their destiny. They led 4-2 late in the third period and were well on their way to defeating the San Jose Sharks for the 12th consecutive time. But the Sharks were invested in playing spoiler, and they did just that.

San Jose scored two goals in the final 2:06 of regulation, including Timo Meier’s buzzer-beater that crossed the goal line with 0.9 seconds on the clock. Vegas had an extended power play in extra time but could not convert; the Golden Knights lost 1-0 in the shootout for the 5-4 loss.

Not collecting that all-important second point could leave Vegas on the outside looking in at the playoff picture.

Heading into the game, all eyes were on the Vegas crease after several days of mixed messages regarding Robin Lehner’s health. But Lehner did not have season-ending surgery and instead served as Logan Thompson’s backup.

By the end of the night, he was one of several teammates who helped lift Thompson off the ice after the heartbreaking finish.

As for the game itself, Vegas was in control for much of the contest, though San Jose scored the first and last goals of the night.

Tomas Hertl quieted the home crowd when he opened the scoring with his 30th of the year, giving San Jose a 1-0 lead 11:43 into the contest. Hertl collected a rebound off a point shot and sent a backhand shot past the outstretched Thompson.

But Vegas struck three minutes later when Chandler Stephenson hit the 20-goal mark for the first time in his career. Stephenson cleaned up a rebound in front of the net on the power play, beating James Reimer to even things up at 1-1. Two quick goals in the second period helped Vegas take over the game.

The first came at 7:46 off the stick of Max Pacioretty, who made a great move before beating Reimer short-side. Just over two minutes later, the Golden Knights lit the lamp again, courtesy of the fourth line. In his first game back after missing a month of action, William Carrier drove to the net and one-timed a feed from Keegan Kolesar for his eighth of the year, giving Vegas a two-goal lead at 9:59 of the second.

Though the Golden Knights had dominated the second period, they gave up a late goal as Nick Bonino, who has found the scoresheet in every game against Vegas this season, deflected a shot to make it 3-2 with just 65 seconds remaining in the frame.

Bonino got things started with his second of the night with just 2:06 left in the third.

 

Then Meier — who was vocal before the game about this being the Sharks’ biggest game of the season — silenced the home crowd when he scored on the backdoor with just 0.9 seconds left to force overtime.

The Golden Knights had a 4-on-3 power play for 1:37 in overtime but came up empty. They looked hesitant and failed to put much pressure on San Jose. Thomas Bordeleau scored the game-winning goal in the third shootout round after Roy, Jack Eichel, and Shea Theodore were shut down by Reimer.

In the year’s biggest game, the Golden Knights will take on the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. They drop the puck at 7:00 pm on AT&T Sports Net.