Golden Knights Finally Polish Off Montreal In Overtime, 4-3, On Theodore’s Game-Winner On VGK’s 53rd Shot Thursday
Story by Alan Snel Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
Just the facts: Vegas Golden Knights 4 Montreal Canadiens 3 OT
VGK Eight-Game Homestand: 3-3-2
VGK record: 24-15-2 for 50 points at season half
VGK shots: 53
VGK goal scorers: Chandler Stephenson, William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault, Shea Theodore
Storyline: Knights struggle to put away NHL’s worst team, need third period goal to force overtime.
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It’s the Montreal Canadiens playing the Vegas Golden Knights Thursday night at the Big Ice House by the Strip and it’s hard to believe this a rematch of the NHL’s semifinals from last season.
Last season’s upstart Habs are a lowly 8-25-5 and occupying the bottom rung of the Atlantic Division, a whopping 38 points behind the division-leading and two-time defending Cup-winning Tampa Bay Lightning.
Meanwhile, the Golden Knights still lead their Pacific Division, but they are winless in their last three games and winners of only one game out of the last six as they wrap up eight straight games on home ice at T-Mobile Arena.
Plus, the team’s emotional heart, Mark Stone, is out on COVID protocol, and steady defenseman Zach Whitecloud is a late scratch. Starters Max Pacioretty, Alec Martinez and Nic Hague continue to miss action because of injuries. And Hague is in COVID protocol, too.
Nic Roy is in the lineup, with William Carrier moved up to the first line with Chandler Stephenson, who is also flanked by winger Evgenii Dadonov.
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Stephenson opened the scoring for the Knights with his 12th of the season only 3:40 into the game, with Carrier and Dadonov picking up the assists.
With goalies Carey Price and Jake Allen out, third-stringer Sam Montembeault is in goal for the Habs.
Montreal climbed into a tie thanks to a goal by Michael Pezzetta, his fourth of the season.
After one period, last season’s semifinal combatants were tied at one all.
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William Karlsson lifted the Knights into the lead with his sixth goal, a power play tally, off an assist from fellow Misfit Jonathan Marchessault.
The Knights led, 2-1.
The VGK lead didn’t last long.
Montreal’s Tyler Toffoli notched a power play goal at 14:20 of the middle stanza and the game was deadlocked at two.
After two periods, it’s 2-2.
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Mike Hoffman’s one-timer gave Montreal the lead 6:15 into the final period.
The Knights trailed, 3-2.
Montreal was a minus 23 in goals for and against in the third period.
The Habs’ poor third period performance continued with the Golden Knights scoring the equalizer with a power play goal by Marchessault, his 19th this season at 11:39 of the third.
Off to overtime for both clubs, tied at three.
VGK netminder Robin Lehner stopped 21 of 24 shots, while Montembeault stopped 45 of 48 shots.
Shea Theodore scored his eighth goal of the season 1:50 into the OT.
His stick-handling skills on display, he maneuvered into position to fire home the winner. Theodore and his mates now hit the road for a four-game road trip to the southeast.
