Golden Knights’ Nine-Game Win Streak Snapped By Blues Saturday; Attendance Announced at 18,343 For VGK 3-2 Loss
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Story by Alan Snel Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
Just the facts: St. Louis Blues 3 Vegas Golden Knights 2
VGK goal scorers: Reilly Smith (8th goal), Phil Kessel (3rd goal)
Bottom line: Golden Knights’ nine-game win streak snapped
Story line: VGK lacked shots on goal in first two periods in first game back home after five-game road trip. Knights dominated third period and finished with 37 shots on goal.
Postgame comment: VGK coach Bruce Cassidy mentioned “mental fatigue” as a factor
Announced attendance: 18,343
VGK record: 13-3-0 for 26 points, first in division. Cassidy’s old team, the Boston Bruins, also has 13 wins for 26 points.
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The Golden Age marketing slogan (yes, after five years the Vegas Golden Knights have entered a new age) has a back-to-the-future vibe with the Golden Knights reeling off win after win and the fans reignited a season after the VGK did not qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The arena’s resale ticket website shows tickets are starting at $40 before fees, which is impressive when you consider resale ticket prices dropped to the $20 range last season.
The Golden Knights have won 13 of their first 15 games, including nine straight victories. The last five came on a 5-0-0 road trip on an 11-day, two-country exodus that ended with a 7-4 win in Buffalo. Jack Eichel went off for three goals in the third period in his homecoming. Eichel leads the team in scoring with 19 points (9 goals, 10 assists) in 15 games.
St. Louis, which won the Stanley Cup in 2019, is 4-8-0 after 12 games.
The Golden Knights have dominated the first period, outscoring their foes in the first 20 minutes of the 15 games by 20-7. The Knights have also outscored their opponents, 21-14, in the third period, while winning three of their 13 triumphs in overtime.
Tonight is the Knights’ sixth game in 12 days, with each game played in a different city.
St. Louis struck first when Brandon Saad snapped a nasty wrister past VGK goalie Adin Hill midway through the first period.
But the Knights responded when shorty specialist Reilly Smith locked the game at one with a goal while St. Louis was on the power play. It was 1-1 after the first 20 minutes of open-ice, skating hockey with only 10 shots on goal between the two teams.
In period two, Phil Kessel took a wrister that beat Blues goalie Jordan Binnington and VGK had a 2-1 lead.
Late in the second period, Hill, who was playing well in goal for Vegas, mishandled the puck and was burned for a goal by the Blues’ Ivan Barbashev at the 16:06 mark of period two. Then, St. Louis veteran Ryan O’Reilly scored 40 seconds later to give the Blues a 3-2 lead after two periods.
The Knights entered the final period trailing by a goal with their nine-game winning streak on the line.
The VGK dominated the third period, but could not score the equalizer.
Final: Blues 3 Golden Knights 2
It was Hill’s first loss of the season. He’s 5-1.
The Knights play San Jose Tuesday and Arizona Thursday on this three-game homestand.
