Golden Knights Stumble Again, Lose 3-0 In Minnesota In Game 6 Wednesday and Face Winner-Take-All Game 7 On Home Ice Friday
By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
This was not the way Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley wanted to generate more revenues at T-Mobile Arena.
Up three games to one after four games over nemesis Minnesota Wild, the Golden Knights have lost Games 5 and 6 and now face a win-or-go-home Game 7 on home ice in Las Vegas Friday at 6PM local Las Vegas time. Expect 12,156 at the VGK home arena in two days.
The Wild blanked the Golden Knights, 3-0, in Game 6 in St. Paul, Minnesota Wednesday before 4,500 at Xcel Energy Center.
Netminders Marc-Andre Fleury of VGK and Cam Talbot of Minnesota pitched shutouts after two periods before the Wild notched all three goals in the final 20 minutes: Ryan Hartman at 4:21, Kevin Fiala at 9:35 and Nick Bjugstad at 15:17.
The Knights’ Chandler Stephenson scored what appeared to be the game-tying goal in period three, but NHL officials in Toronto ruled it was no goal because of goalie interference by Alex Tuch. Minnesota then scored twice more to complete the 3-0 win.
The Golden Knights are 1-1 in Games 7 in their four-year history.
“It’s an exciting opportunity,” VGK winger Reilly Smith said of Game 7 at T-Mobile Arena Friday
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LVSportsBiz.com documented VGK fans watching Game 6 in places from the official watch party at the Red Rock Resort pool to City National Arena’s MacKenzie River pizzeria to even the Wolfgang Puck Players Locker in Summerlin.
Early second period — Red Rock Resort pool
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Midway second period, Red Rock casino
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Late second period, Red Rock sportsbook
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Late second period, City National Arena — MacKenzie River pizzeria
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The Golden Knights have never closed out a playoff series at home in Las Vegas. In Year 1, the Knights won the first three rounds in Los Angeles, San Jose and Winnipeg. In Year 2, there was a controversial Game 7 first round loss to the Sharks in San Jose. In Year 3, it was life in the Edmonton postseason bubble.
The VGK had a chance to clinch this first round series two days ago in Game 5, but lost, 4-2, before 12,156 fans, or 70 percent of capacity.
This is the third consecutive postseason that the Knights have squandered a 3-1 lead in games in the postseason. There was the loss to San Jose in 2019 and the win against Vancouver in 2020.
It’s Game 7, Vegas vs Minnesota on Friday.
The New York Islanders defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins to win that series, 4-2, and will move on to play Boston. In the Sunshine State, the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Florida Panthers to close out that series, four games to two, and will play the winner of Nashville vs Carolina.
The VGK minor league team, the Henderson Silver Knights, also lost Wednesday, 3-2 in OT to Bakersfield.
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The WNBA las Vegas Aces were repping the Golden Knights in Phoenix tonight. The Aces defeated Phoenix and are now 3-2.
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