VGK Polish Off Blues, 4-1, Behind Smith Hat Trick, Setting Up Season’s Biggest Game Against Colorado Monday

By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com

Just the facts: Vegas Golden Knights 4 St. Louis Blues 1

VGK goal scorers: Reilly Smith (12, 13, 14), Chandler Stephenson (14)

VGK record: 39-13-2 for 80 points, tying Carolina for most points in NHL

Season’s biggest game: Monday’s Vegas vs Colorado at T-Mobile Arena, Vegas leads by 4 points and Avs have played one less game

Attendance: 7,567, matching Saturday’s. 7567 also the numbers of missing Ryan Reaves and Max Pacioretty.

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The Vegas Golden Knights put the clamps on the St. Louis Blues Saturday evening, limiting the Blues to a mere eight shots in the first 40 minutes en route to a 4-1 win at T-Mobile Arena.

It was a workmanlike win for the Knights, who now turn to Monday’s massive showdown with the Colorado Avalanche with first place in the West Division still in the balance between VGK and the Avs. Colorado beat LA,  tonight. If the Avs win out, they win the West because they hold the tiebreaker against the Knights.

The VGK forechecking and defense were superb as the Blues had three shots in the first period and another five in the second period. St. Louis was outshot by the Knights, 29-21, for the game.

“Forecheck is good,” said Pietrangelo, who stole a pass on a Blues power play and fed Chandler Stephenson who blasted home a shorthanded goal at 13:32 of the first period.

Smith backhanded in a rebound from in close to score the Knights’ first goal at 12:26 of the first period.

On a 4-on-4 late in period two, the Blues had their best sustained push in the period. The Blues’ Colton Parayko scored his second of the season with only 37 seconds left in the middle stanza to cut the VGK lead to 2-1 after two periods.

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Smith notched his second goal of the night on the power play by knocking in his own rebound past St. Louis netminder Ville Husso at 4:11.

The Knights led, 3-1.

With 49 seconds to go in the game, Smith tossed in an unassisted empty net goal to complete his hat trick and secure the Golden Knights’ 4-1 win.

VGK coach Pete DeBoer said it was good to see that Smith is heating up at the season’s most important stage leading into the playoffs.

See you Monday, when the Knights can clinch the division title with a win against Colorado. If VGK finish in first, they play St. Louis in the playoffs’ first round.

Missing Saturday were Ryan Reaves, Max Pacioretty and Tomas Nosek.

Division standings:

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