After a rough debut in the Eastern Conference Tuesday, the Golden Knights hoped to redeem themselves on the East Coast. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Vegas Golden Knights faced off in a ferocious game but continued to show their weaknesses. Barely a week into the 2024-2025 NHL regular season, the Golden Knights are still molding their playoff team.
Period One
The Golden Knights barreled off the bench in the first period. They were much more alive than in the recent game against the Washington Capitals. Defenseman Brayden McNabb was the first to put points on the board with a snapshot. Tampa Bay struck back with a score of their own. The Golden Knights responded as Pavel Dorofeyev scored on the power play. The back and forth continued between the clubs as the score evened 2-2, with a wrist shot from Nikita Kucherov making it past Adin Hill. While the offensive lines of the VGK continue to strengthen, the defense is still producing low and high results.
Period Two
Period two was a fast-paced battle on the ice. Hoping to bury the previous game, Ivan Barbashev buried the puck in the net off the rush. The Knights were sent to the power play after a slashing penalty called on the Tampa Bay Lightning against Jack Eichel. Unfortunately, the power play was unfruitful for Vegas. Despite the defensive line still finding their identity, Shea Theodore and Alexander Holtz were quick to the net, providing the VGK with more scoring chances.
The Golden Knights ended the second period on a high note despite a five-on-three power play for the Lightning. The Golden Knights scrapped and collapsed on the crease, denying each attempt from the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Period Three
The Golden Knights had another scoring opportunity in the third period on another power play. Once again, they failed to keep the puck in the offensive zone. Although they left the power play untouched, the Knights were able to shut down Tampa’s advances and keep the Vegas shifts in constant rotation. The Golden Knights were strong once again in the third.
Jack Eichel shined throughout the matchup, fierce on the four check, and consistent in creating chances. With 2:21 left in the game, Tampa sent a bouncing puck past Adin Hill, evening the score late in the third. To make matters worse, with just a minute to go, a deflection goal gave Tampa the lead 4-3.
A Tough Loss To Accept
Games like these are the reason why hockey is characterized as unpredictable. While the defensive line for the Vegas team tightened their security, wayward pucks still coincidentally made their way through the crease as the seconds ticked down in the final period. The Las Vegas Golden Knights hit louder than thunder and harder than lightning throughout the game.
The effort was there, but this emphasizes why getting pucks to the net is so important; many times, deflections, bouncing pucks, and other freak “accidents” will add points to the board. Even though the Golden Knights will now head to Sunrise, Florida, with another East Coast loss, they should consider themselves redeemed.
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