Wasted Hat Trick For VGK: LA Kings 6 Golden Knights 5 After Tomas Hertl Scores Three Before Announced 18,019 Sunday
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Story by Alan Snel Photos by Hugh Byrne
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Final: Los Angeles Kings 6 Vegas Golden Knights 5
VGK goal scorers: Nic Roy (8); Tomas Hertl (25, 26, 27); Brandon Saad (11)
Story line: Coach Bruce Cassidy said the Knights were not ready to play and handled the puck poorly. Cassidy said it was a one-off game, with players losing one-on-one battles and puck races. He said the team will be ready to compete during an upcoming road trip this week.
Attendance: 18,019
VGK record: 38-19-6 for 82 points
Bottom line: Golden Knights score five goals and net zero points in the standings.
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It was early in the second period at the VGK-LA Kings game Sunday and the Kings just notched their third goal for a 3-0 lead. Kings fans at the Big Ice House by the Strip were elated and a lone voice could be heard in the quiet arena, “We want more.”
Well, a funny thing happened. There was more scoring.
But not by the Kings. VGK’s fourth-line center Nic Roy scored on a backhand shot that barely slipped past the goal line into the net and the Kings’ three-goal lead was cut to two tallies.
A roar went up in the venue when PA announcer Bruce Cusick announced, “Reilly Smith,” for the second assist.
The Vegas Golden Knights were making their push and comeback bid.There were more goals.
More VGK goals.
Tomas Hertl made a nice individual effort, retrieving the puck and coming out from behind the goal line to take a shot and beat LA goalie David Rittich.
With six minutes left in the second period, Vegas led LA in shots on goal, 21-20, after trailing 19-9 earlier in the middle stanza.
But the VGK let the Kings get a two-goal lead with about a minute left in the period after Vegas defenseman Alex Pietrangelo showed some sloppy defensive play. Warren Foegele scored his 18th after breaking in on Knights goalie Adin Hill and the Kings led, 4-2, after two periods.
There would be no comeback win for Vegas.
Trevor Moore out of Thousand Oaks, California scored to give LA a 5-2 lead at the start of the third period.
Hertl, who looks faster and quicker on the ice, scored a power play goal before Adrian Kempe scored an easy power play goal for LA. Brandon Saad notched a goal to make it a 6-4 game with about eight minutes left in the final period.
Then it was Hertl — again. He scored with Hill off the ice and the hat trick by the former San Jose Shark pulled the VGK to within a goal at 6-5.
The Knights nearly scored near the end — but LA hung on.
Final: Kings 6 Knights 5.
The loss snapped the Vegas four-game win streak.
