The Vegas Golden Knights returned to action after a four-day layoff and fell to the Carolina Hurricanes by a score of 3-1. Jonathan Marchessault got things started with a goal at the halfway point of the first period, and that would be the only goal the team scored.
Vegas had more than enough additional opportunities to score again, see more on that later, and one particular chance ended up making the difference in the loss. It is a game that the team should have won, and once again it was a case of two early goals dooming the team to the point where Carolina was able to lock things down.
After 20 minutes of play the game was 1-0, and it took 81 seconds of play in the second frame for Carolina to tie things up at 1. The remainder of the period was quiet on the scoresheet, and Vegas entered the third period with a power play chance that carried over from the end of the second.
For morale purposes, surrendering a goal 81 seconds into the second was pretty bad for the Golden Knight. Seth Jarvis’ short-handed goal 19 seconds into the third was even more devastating. That goal would stand as the game winner, and Stefan Noesen’s strike six minutes later added an insurance policy the Hurricanes never needed to act on.
All told, the Golden Knights finished the game with 30 shots on goal to Carolina’s 28, and they went 0 for 2 on the power play, even though you could make the case they went -1 for 2 given the shorthanded goal surrendered. If there is a positive to take away from the loss, it is that Marchessault continues to play and produce at a torrid pace. He’s now scored 11 goals and added 4 assists for 15 points in his last 11 games, which has been good to see considering that Jack Eichel hasn’t played since January 11th. Vegas is 7-3–1 in the stretch, and it is notable that two of the losses have come in the last two games played.
Luckily for Vegas, the Vancouver Canucks lost on Saturday too, and the difference between first and second remains 12 points which the Golden Knights holding two games in hand. It is still a considerable gap to close, but the Canucks are due for some regression given their unsustainable shooting and goaltending performance thus far.
The Golden Knights are off on Sunday, and will start a busy week on Monday with a matinee contests vs. the San Jose Sharks. Vegas will then take on the Predators on Tuesday, and end the week with a game vs. the Maple Leafs on Thursday, and a road game vs. the Senators on Saturday.