Without Eichel, Theodore, Karlsson, Golden Knights Lose, 2-1, In Shootout To New Jersey Wednesday; Attendance Reported At 17,862
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Story by Alan Snel Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Where have we seen this before?
The Vegas Golden Knights lost their tenth overtime/shootout out of 32 games this season. That’s the bad news.
But there’s also good news. Yet, at 16-6-10, the VGK sit tied atop the Pacific Division with the Anaheim Ducks at 42 points.
Connor Brown scored for New Jersey, while Vegas’ Pavel Dorofeyev scored a late third period goal to lock the game at one apiece and send the contest into overtime.
Two of VGK’s two potent offensive playmakers — center Jack Eichel and defenseman Shea Theodore — were out of action. Plus. another center — William Karlsson — remains out for a while. Without two of the team’s four centers, coach Bruce Cassidy inserted Reilly Smith into the third line center role.
Without Eichel, the team’s top offensive force, Cassidy said, “That’s a big hole to fill.”
The team with a penchant for playing tied regulation games was stymied by 35-year-old Devils netminder Jack Allen, who played a rock-solid game to shut out the the Golden Knights in the shootout. Jesper Bratt scored the sole shootout tally on a nifty backhand shot.
The Knights did rally to tie the game late. Cassidy noted the team’s heightened urgency as it tried to get even with New Jersey in the third period.
The season has been an enigma for the VGK, which has made the NHL playoffs in seven of eight seasons entering the 2025-26 campaign.
With the 2-1 shootout loss, the Knights have won 16 games, while losing six in regulation and losing another ten in either overtime or a shootout. Vegas reported attendance at 17,862.
That’s 16 wins and 16 overall losses, yet the Golden Knights have 42 points in 32 games, good for a first place tie with Anaheim (20-12-2) in the Pacific Division.
Both goalies payed well — Allen for New Jersey and Carter Hart for Vegas.
Hart was back between the pipes after backstopping Vegas to a 3-2 win over Columbus in his last start. He entered tonight’s contest with a 3-0-1 record after drawing intense media attention. There was more media coverage of Hart today with this commentary by a Las Vegas public relations professional and sexual assault survivor.
It was Jewish Heritage Night on the fourth night of Chanukah, with the local Dancing Dreidels in their gear.
PSA
