VGK Announce Impressive Pre-Saint Patrick’s Day Attendance of 18,207, But Flames Burn Knights With Big Third Period In 7-2 Win Thursday
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Story by Alan Snel Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
It was the Vegas Golden Knights’ first home game after a long five-game road trip and it was not surprising the Golden Knights looked a tad sleepy before a home ice crowd that included many in green on the day before St. Patrick’s Day.
The Knights managed only six shots on goal against Calgary Flames net minder Jacob Markstrom during the first 20 minutes and trailed, 1-0, after the first frame.
The VGK lacked juice and jump in their play. They appeared in the first period as if the Knights were checking scores of the first full day of the NCAA college basketball tournament.
Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb skated in down the slot and fired a shot that beat Markstrom. The puck, though, rattled along the cage and didn’t go into the net.
MacKenzie Weegar scored the Flames’ goal in period one.
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Calgary jumped on the Knights to take 2-0 lead on a goal by Tyler Toffoli. He made a nice steal, skated in and went around VGK goalie Jonathan Quick for his 27th.
The Flames nearly scored again for a three-goal lead, but Quick made several key stops to keep the VGK deficit at 2-0.
Those saves played a big role because instead of the Knights trailing, 3-0, VGK defenseman Zach Whitecloud scored later in the second period and Calgary’s lead was sliced to a single goal at 2-1.
The Knights continued to climb back into the game. Misfits William Karlsson and Reilly Smith combined on a goal for Smith’s 23rd goal and the game was deadlocked at two apiece.
The tie didn’t last long. With just less than three minutes left in period two, Blake Coleman deflected a pass past Quick and Calgary regained the lead at 3-2.
And that was the score as both hockey clubs went into the second intermission.
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Tickets were high in the market before the game. It was $32 plus fees to get in the building with a SRO ticket at the Hyde and $58 plus fees otherwise.
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The third period was a disaster for the Knights as Calgary smoked the VGK for four goals even though Vegas had 10 third period comebacks to lead the NHL.
The Knights fell behind by two goals again.
This time, it was Mikael Backlund scoring his 17th for Calgary on the power play and the Knights trailed, 4-2, in the third.
Toffoli scored his second of the game, scooping in a rebound in close to beat Quick and the Flames enjoyed a 5-2 advantage. Coleman added an empty-netter and Dillion Dube scored to make it, 7-2.
The Knights dropped to 42-21-6, but still lead the Pacific Division.
After the game, Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said he was not happy with the lack of a 60-minute effort and said the Knights’ power play was “awful.”
But he also noted the game didn’t seem like a 7-2 blowout loss either, citing several quirky goals by Calgary. “They seem to happen in this building,” Cassidy said of the unusual goals.
The Flames were in the NHL playoffs last season. But the team sits in fifth place in the eight-team Pacific, looking to make a push for the postseason. The Flames played with more desperation, even if they were aided by some weird goals.
The Knights play Columbus on Sunday.
