Golden Knights Break Four-Game Losing Streak With 3-2 Win Over LA On Home Ice Thursday, With Attendance Announced At 18,595; Off To Seattle For Winter Classic New Year’s Day Game
Story by Alan Snel Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
The defending Stanley Cup champs were in a slump.
The Vegas Golden Knights were coming off road losses to Carolina, Tampa Bay, Florida and Anaheim and lost their first place status in their division to the Vancouver Canucks.
In came old nemesis the Los Angeles Kings with their crafty vets like 36-year-old Anze Kopitar, 34-year-old Drew Doughty and 36-year-old goalie Cam Talbot.
Vegas returned to their bread-and-butter: sound defense, varied line scoring from Jack Eichel, Michael Amadio and steady netminding from goalie Logan Thompson.
The Knights put a halt to their four-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings, who entered the game with a sizzling 13-1-1 record on the road.
VGK coach Bruce Cassidy liked that the Knights “played a smart, patient game.”
The Knights blocked more than 30 shots and have to be in a better mood heading to Seattle for the NHL Winter Classic outdoor game vs. the Seattle Kraken after dropping four straight games.
Paul “Welcome Back” Cotter on team trying to play better in front of goalie Logan Thompson. pic.twitter.com/yNFvKscyIq
— LVSportsBiz.com (@LVSportsBiz) December 29, 2023
After the game, Vegas goaltender Logan Thompson, who struggled during the four-loss tailspin, acknowledged, “I know I had to be better.”
Logan Thompson: I know I have to be better pic.twitter.com/ZwvH4sitmk
— LVSportsBiz.com (@LVSportsBiz) December 29, 2023
Eichel opened the scoring by whizzing the puck into the upper right corner of the net above Talbot’s glove to give the Golden Knights a 1-0 lead after the first period.
Amadio powered his way to the goal and flipped the puck past Talbot to give the VGK a 2-0 lead in the second period.
After the Kings’ Kopitar tipped in a goal past Thompson to cut into the Vegas lead at 2-1, Paul “Welcome Back” Cotter lugged the puck behind the Kings’ goal and fed Karlsson to beat Talbot to restore the VGK two-goal advantage.
It was Vegas 3 Los Angeles 1 after two periods.
The big crowd was announced at 18,595.
The Kings made it interesting with a six-on-five goal by Trevor Moore, his 17th and the Knights did all they could to hold on.
Los Angeles had some scoring chances.
But Vegas secured the win in its final home game of 2023.
Final: Golden Knights 3 KIngs 2. Next stop for Vegas is an outdoor game with Seattle at the MLB Mariners baseball stadium on Jan. 1.
It’s the final time the VGK and LA will face each other this season.
But will the clubs meet in April and the playoffs?
It could happen.
