By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
LVSportsBiz.com photos by Steve Rosenthal
Comeback.
The Vegas Golden Knights were losing, 3-0, to defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues in period two when it was Ryan Reaves of all people who scored the Knights’ first goal and triggered a ferocious comeback that culminated with the VGK defeating the Blues, 5-4, in overtime before 18,334 Saturday during a 1 p.m. game. It was the first time the three-year-old franchise has rallied from a three-goal deficit to win a game.
It didn’t start well for the Vegas Golden Knights. They were down, 3-0, to the Blues after one period.
But the Knights came alive midway through period two and then the Knights knotted the score at three at the start of period three.
Reilly Smith scored to give the Knights a 4-3 lead before former Knight David Perron of the Blues scored to tie the game at four with about seven minutes left in period three. The game went into OT and it was Chandler Stephenson who scored the game-winner on a breakaway goal.
The Golden Knights management reported attendance of 18,334 fans, including a good number of fans wearing Blues jerseys.
Coach Gerard Gallant talked about the comeback during his postgame comments.
The Blues fans had much to cheer about in period one as St. Louis dominated the VGK, playing air-tight defense. It was the first time the Knights trailed by three goals after one period at home. Here’s one of the shots by the Blues that didn’t beat VGK goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.
Fleury’s outstanding play held the Blues in check until the Knights could stage their rally. Here’s Fleury at his stall after the game.
The Golden Knights fans cheered for Cameron Hughes, who returned to T-Mobile Arena to lead the cheers and give T-shirts to Knights fans.
Former Season 1 VGKer Perron was on the Blues’ top line Saturday.
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In period two, Knights’ Cody Glass began the stanza centering veteran wingers Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone.
Midway through the second period, the Blues were outshooting the Knights, 20-9. Fleury made several terrific saves to keep the deficit at three.
And then the Knights made their move. The Knights’ fourth line cut into the Blues leads when hard-checking Reaves scored in front of the St. Louis net with 6:50 to go in the period. The unassisted goal was Reaves’ fifth.
And Paul Stastny scored off a nice pass from William Carrier to make it, 3-2. It was Stastny’s 11th goal of the season.
The Knights were back in the game, trailing only by a lone goal after two periods. The Blues were outshooting the Knights, 24-20, after two periods. Both Reaves and Stastny are former Blues players.
The Knights battled well in front of the Blues goal and Nic Roy put in a rebound to knot the score at three. Glass was injured and left the game, and Gallant did not have an update at his press conference.
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