Golden Knights Coaches Missed VGK-Blues Game Because of COVID-19 Protocols; Golden Knights Come Back To Force OT, But Lose Shootout As GM Coaches Team Tuesday
By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
COVID-19 caught up with the Vegas Golden Knights Tuesday when the Golden Knights’ coaching staff was not behind the bench for tonight’s VGK 5-4 shootout loss to the St. Louis Blues in another wild game between these two teams that will play eight times this pandemic season.
The Golden Knights did salvage a point after staging a comeback in the third period thanks to Max Pacioretty’s hat trick that helped send the 4-4 game into overtime. There were lots of scoring chances during the 3-on-3 five-minute OT, but neither team scored. The Blues outscored the Knights, 2-1, in the shootout to snag the two points, while the VGK are now 5-1-1.
Watching the entertaining game in isolation were Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer and his assistant coaches and coming off the bench, as it were, to coach the Knights was General Manager Kelly McCrimmon, who has coaching experience. Here was the team’s official statement shortly before the game started: “Out of an abundance of caution, the Vegas Golden Knights coaching staff will be self-isolating for Tuesday night’s game against the St. Louis Blues due to COVID-19 protocols. Vegas Golden Knights General Manager Kelly McCrimmon will be behind the bench Tuesday along with members of the Henderson Silver Knights coaching staff. We will provide additional updates when appropriate.”
This was the first time during this shortened 56-game pandemic season that a Golden Knights coach or player has missed a game because of the novel coronavirus, which has led to the deaths of 423,000 Americans.
DeBoer was replaced by McCrimmon, who was joined by Henderson Silver Knights coaches for the highly-anticipated game between two of the best teams in the newly-formed West Division, created for this pandemic season. The Henderson Silver Knights head coach Manny Viveiros and Silver Knights assistants Jamie Heward and Joel Ward were McCrimmon’s assistants at T-Mobile Arena tonight. McCrimmon coached the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL when he owned the hockey club, so he has coaching experience.
The only mention of DeBoer not coaching Tuesday evening at T-Mobile Arena was arena host Mark Shunock saying the VGK coaches were quarantining.
“We had an exposure on our coaching staff,” McCrimmon said, explaining a coach tested positive. “We will close our facility tomorrow.” No VGK players tested positive, he said.
“Players had great energy,” McCrimmon said. VGK players found out about the coaches having to quarantine when they reached T-Mobile Arena.
The Knights’ goalie rotation was in play tonight as netminder Robin Lehner was in goal for the VGK. St. Louis scored three goals on its first seven shots against Lehner and led the Knights, 3-1, after one period. Lehner did not look sharp in that first period.
VGK forward Alex Tuch flew up ice on the right side and beat Blues goalie Jordan Binnington to open the scoring.
Former original VGK Misfit David Perron answered for the Blues with two goals and Jaden Schwartz added the third goal for St. Louis.
The Knights and Blues swapped goals in period two, as Pacioretty scored for the VGK. It was 4-2 Blues over the Knights after two periods.
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In period three, the Golden Knights continued to dominate the Blues. Pacioretty scored two goals to complete his hat trick and attain his seventh three-goal game in his career.
On Pacioretty’s game-tying goal, the Knights executed some gorgeous passing, with defenseman Alec Martinez feeding Patches for the equalizer in the latter stages of the third period. VGK piled up 40 shots.
Perron haunted his former mates with his two goals, plus he scored on his shot in the shootout. Brayden Schenn also scored on Lehner in the shootout. The Knights’ Shea Theodore scored for VGK during the shootout.
VGK players said they’re pros and play within a structure whether the voice behind the bench came from DeBoer or McCrimmon.
“We all take pride in our system,” Pacioretty said after the game.
Professional teams have played without their coaches because of the novel coronavirus. For example, NFL Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski did not coach his team when the Browns defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL Wild Card game.
But here in Las Vegas, UNLV men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger tested positive for COVID-19 and UNLV’s team missed several games last month.
This game matched the Knights’ big free agent acquisition — defensemen Alex Pietrangelo — against his former St. Louis Blues teammates. Here are some LVSportsBiz.com photos from LVSB photographer J. Tyge O’Donnell showing Pietrangelo in a VGK-Blues game from November 2018.
Here’s the Knights’ new defenseman on playing his ex-team. “I’ve been joking that: if you’re going to do it, you may as well do it eight times in one year. I feel good. I feel comfortable about,” Pietrangelo said.
Reilly Smith on tonight’s game: “We’re focused on what we can do and how we can adapt our game to different opponents.”
Ryan Reaves also used to play for the St. Louis Blues. “We consider ourselves to be a measuring stick for the rest of the league. If we come out with our best game, we’re going to come out with a win,” Reaves said.
Tonight’s NHL game results: Out of 13 games, ten were one-goal games (three OT wins plus two shootouts) and two others were two-goal games.
