Undermanned Golden Knights Drop 2-1 Decision to Colorado Monday As VGK Miss Patches, Reaves, Krebs, Martinez, Nosek; Avs Goalie Grubauer Saves Colorado
By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
Just the facts: Colorado 2 Vegas 1
Division title: If Colorado defeats LA Wednesday and Thursday, Avs win the division
VGK scoring: Alex Pietrangelo (6)
Top star: Colorado goalie Philipp Grubauer was too good, stopping 36 of 37 VGK shots
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With nothing less than a division title and the league’s best record in the balance, the Vegas Golden Knights have only 10 forwards (not the usual 12) and five defensemen (usually six) because of salary cap restrictions and bad timing of injuries against Colorado at T-Mobile Arena tonight.
The Golden Knights are missing Max Pacioretty, Peyton Krebs, Ryan Reaves, Tomas Nosek and Alec Martinez. Getting the start in goal for VGK is Robin Lehner.
“I really like the 17 players that are playing tonight. Do I wish it was 20 players? Of course. Success isn’t generally a straight line, it doesn’t come without hardships and challenges,” Golden Knights General Manager Kelly McCrimmon said during a Zoom presser at 6:15 PM. “When we get to Thursday, there is no salary cap. That will be a welcome change for our coaches and our group to have access to the entire lineup.”
Another sellout of at least 7,567 is expected at T-Mobile Arena tonight. And that was exactly what the announced attendance was.
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The Golden Knights looked like the old Season 1 scrappy Misfits in period one, as players were flying around the ice, throwing around the body like a bone-crunching check by defenseman Brayden “The Nabber” McNabb and outshot the Colorado Avalanche, 14-9.
Alex Pietrangelo fired home a rebound past Avs goalie Philipp Grubauer at 8:11 for the period’s lone goal.
Lehner looked solid, stopping all nine shots.
The game has had it all so far — speedy skating, solid goalie play, some big checks, great moves and another wedding proposal at T-Mobile Arena after the first period.
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The undermanned Knights outshot Colorado, 29-13, after two periods.
But it was the Avalanche that scored the second period’s lone goal. Andre Burakovsky notched his 18th at 7:04.
It was still a good period for the Golden Knights.
Pietrangelo looks like he’s more in sync with his mates, throwing his body around the ice and being aggressive on the offensive end. Case in point: he followed up a rebound and blasted the Knights’ sole goal so far/
After two periods: Colorado 1 Vegas 1.
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The Knights continued to control play in period three, with Grubauer stopping shot after shot.
The Knights were outshooting Colorado, 36-14, halfway through the final 20 minutes.
Again, the Avs had so few shots. But they were the only team to score a goal so far in the final period. J.T. Compher scored his seventh at 11:33 and the Knights were down, 2-1.
The undermanned Knights applied the pressure late in period three, emptying the tank in search of the equalizer goal.
It never came as Grubauer stonewalled the Knights, which mustered a single shot on goal in the final 10 minutes. Knights coach Pete DeBoer didn’t want to discuss that after the game and his presser ended soon afterwards.
Final shots on goal: VGK 37 Colorado 21.
Final score: Colorado 2 Vegas 1
The door is open for Colorado to win the division. If the Avalanche win both games against the LA Kings in Denver Wednesday and Thursday, the Avs will be the number one seeded team in the division as its winner and play St. Louis in round one while VGK would play Minnesota with the home ice.
The Golden Knights play the Sharks in San Jose Wednesday.
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