With Stone, Pietrangelo Out, Golden Knights Blanked By Wild, 2-0, in Minnesota Monday
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By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
Vegas Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer said Monday’s VGK vs Minnesota Wild game would be the toughest of the week.
It didn’t help that the Knights were without injured forward Mark Stone and defenseman Alex Pietrangelo for the game at the Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota. The Knights didn’t describe Stone’s injury, while Pietrangelo was hit with a puck during the win against the Sharks in San Jose.
The Knights have won six games in a row, including two last week against the Wild in Las Vegas. Last Monday’s VGK vs Wild game was the first game at T-Mobile Arena with fans.
The Knights were in Minnesota one year ago when the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the National Hockey League to put the season on pause. DeBoer called it “surreal” to be back in the same city where life changed nearly 365 days ago because of the novel coronavirus.
Marc-Andre Fleury was in net for the Golden Knights. He has 12 wins this season, including four shutouts. VGK forward Alex Tuch has the hot hand, with eight goals in the last seven games.
The first period is a danger period for the Knights against the Wild, which has outscored opponents, 27-11, in the first period.
The Knights have outscored theirs foes, 25-11, during their six-game win streak. Goalie Robin Lehner and defenseman Brayden McNabb are still out. The VGK are six points up on Minnesota in the West Division.
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The Wild cashed in on a Knights turnover by Keegan Kolesar to take a 1-0 lead when Kevin Fiala snapped a wrist shot past Fleury on a two-on-one rush. Minnesota is 11-2 when scoring first this season.
It was Wild 1 VGK 0 after one period.
“Not good,” VGK forward Jonathan Marchessault said of the first period. “When you’re missing two quality players, it’s up for everyone to step up.”
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In period two, the Knights applied more pressure.
Center Chandler Stephenson’s wrist shot from the slot on a power play hit a post. It was 1-0, Wild, midway through period two.
And that’s the way the period ended.
After two periods, Wild 1 Knights 0.
“We have to get more bodies to the net,” VGK defenseman Shea Theodore said after the period.
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The Knights lacked the jump in their legs and some key players tonight.
It added up to a 2-0 loss to Minnesota.
Wild goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen registered the shutout.
The VGK dropped to 16-5-1. The Knights’ other blanking this season was a 1-0 loss to Anaheim.
The Knights and Wild play again Wednesday before Vegas heads to St. Louis for two more games on the road.
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The NHL’s COVID-19 protocols list had only two players Monday.
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