The Vegas Golden Knights lost for the seventh time in the last 10 games when they dropped a 2-1 overtime decision against the Calgary Flames Monday night at Scotiabank Saddledome.
Vegas held a 1-0 lead going into the third but gave up a goal 2:31 into the final frame. The Flames then completed the comeback with 4.8 seconds left on the clock in overtime to come away with the extra point.
The Golden Knights opened the scoring 13:53 into the first period when William Karlsson converted on the power play. Nicolas Roy set the screen, and Michael Amadio was the setup man for Karlsson’s 10th of the season.
That, however, was the only offense the Golden Knights would muster.
It wasn’t not for lack of trying, however, as Vegas had ample opportunities to extend its lead. But Flames netminder Dan Vladar didn’t get the memo.
Vladar had a fantastic game and turned aside 27 of 28 shots for a .964 save percentage, stonewalling Vegas at every turn.
Adin Hill and the Golden Knights kept Calgary off the board through 40 minutes, but the Flames lit the lamp 2:31 into the third.
A.J. Greer took advantage of a pair of lucky bounces off both Vegas defensemen to help the Flames knot things up at 1-1.
Calgary got a power play with 55 seconds remaining in regulation, which carried over into extra time. The Golden Knights had several broken sticks, but the Vegas penalty kill came through in the clutch against the Flames’ 4-on-3 advantage.
Roy exited the penalty box to set up 4-on-4 until the next whistle, but that whistle never came.
With 12 seconds remaining, the Flames made a final push from behind their goal line. A pick at the Vegas blue line went uncalled and cleared up the wide lane for defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, who beat Hill on the last-second win.
The Golden Knights are now 4-5-1 all-time in Calgary.
Once again, the Golden Knights failed to capitalize, which was the difference in this game.
There’s no denying that Bruce Cassidy’s new-look lines — which put the Chandler Stephenson, Jack Eichel and Mark Stone line back together, reunited Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault, and moved Roy to the third line — led to scoring chances. A lot of them.
But the Golden Knights were unable to cash in on countless opportunities, including breakaways, odd-man rushes and chances in tight. Vladar had a great game, as goaltenders continue to have standout performances against Vegas. But at a certain point, the Golden Knights just have to put the puck in the net.
“Our lack of finish was certainly there again tonight,” Cassidy said. “We had chances to extend the lead. … It’s another game where we’re in the game, playing well enough to win. If we finish some of those Grade-A’s, we’re not sitting here talking about a loss. It is what it is.”
The overtime game-winner was a goal Hill would like to have back. That being said, he played a key role in helping the Golden Knights come away with a point. He finished the game with 32 saves on 34 shots for a .941 save percentage and was particularly strong during the second half of the middle frame.
He did not have the luxury of much goal support, which has been a theme in recent games. In fact, the Golden Knights have not scored a goal at 5-on-5 in their last four games, and they have just two regulation goals in that span.
Even if Weegar’s goal was soft, it’s difficult to pin this one on the goalie.
“There’s just chances that we need to start finishing,” Cassidy said. “But until we do, we’re going to be in these nail biters, because I think we’ve stayed in games very well. But it’s hard to win scoring one goal. It’s hard, and we’re proving that.”
The Golden Knights got off to an outstanding start to the season, but they did so with a high PDO, indicating an elevated and unsustainable amount of luck. That luck has swung in the other direction, and despite the scoring drought, Vegas was able to come away with a point in Calgary.
Even so, Vegas has scored three total goals in the last four games. Three.
Something has to give.
Tomorrow night’s contest against the suddenly-lively Edmonton Oilers presents a critical need for offense and could be exactly what Vegas needs to snap out of this slump and get back on track. It will be a competitive game in a hostile environment against a team eager for revenge and desperate for points.
“Obviously, every team in this league is gonna have bad stretches,” Roy said. “We’re in one right now. But we’re such a good team; we found ways to win all last year. We just gotta bury one when we have the chance and get those wins.”