After an insane couple of days which included a false positive Covid-19 test for Marc-Andre Fleury, which sent him on and off of the leagues’ virus protocols list, the Vegas Golden Knights continued their road trip in their first trip to St. Louis of the season.
The Golden Knights played a much better game than they did in Minnesota a few nights ago. The St. Louis Blues and Golden Knights once again had a crazy game as this was the fourth straight game between the two to go into overtime. Reilly Smith had the overtime winner, who had a great game with linemates Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson.
The game got out to a somewhat slow start, but the Blues took control of the play around seven minutes in, but Fleury was able to hold them off. A few moments later their momentum was killed when Ryan O’Reilly sent the Golden Knights to the power play for tripping Chandler Stephenson.
The Golden Knights power play struggles continued, however. They were not able to land a shot on the man advantage and looked quite out of sync with multiple offside calls.
Vegas was able to get some momentum during the second half of the period, which included Nic Hague hitting the post, and finally broke through against the newly extended Jordan Binnington with a goal from the captain, Mark Stone. It was a beautiful passing play from the Vegas first line and came with around five minutes left in the period.
They got another goal from Marchessault not even a minute later, this came from Reilly Smith who forechecked in the corner and put it on net. Marchessault cleaned up the rebound.
After a missed call on a Stephenson breakaway, the Blues got their first powerplay of the game with a Stone slash, but the Golden Knights killed off the beginning 40 seconds of the power play and went to the locker room up 2-0.
The second period started and the power play was killed off by the Golden Knights, they only allowed one shot which Fleury handled easily.
O’Reilly was able to get one back around five minutes into the second, it came on a one-timer and was assisted by Justin Faulk and Zach Sanford.
Fleury made a great glove save on Brayden Schenn a few moments later as the Blues began to take control of the play again.
Around the midpoint of the game, Deboer flipped Tomas Nosek and Cody Glass on their respective lines, and it paid off quickly. Nosek scored to make it 3-1 after a beautiful pass from Dylan Coghlan.
With around six minutes left, Vladamir Tarasenko cleaned up a rebound for his first goal of the season, which once again brought the Blues within one goal.
Both teams pushed throughout the rest of the second, but neither prevailed. The horn sounded with the game at 3-2 Vegas.
The third period got out to a hot start, both teams with great chances early and the Golden Knights went down a man after Alec Martinez was sent to the box for tripping around four minutes into the third period.
The Golden Knights were not able to kill this one off, however. The goal came on a rebound tap in by Sanford which was assisted by Mike Hoffman and Jordan Kyrou. It tied up the game with a lot of time left in the third.
Vegas got their third power play of the game a few moments later, after Oskar Sundqvist was sent to the box for holding Nic Roy. The Golden Knights were not able to score, but it was the best-looking power play of the night.
St. Louis went to the power play seconds after the kill when Dylan Coghlan went to the box for tripping. The Blues took the lead quickly as David Perron one-timed a shot passed Fleury, who had no chance to make the stop.
Seconds later, the Golden Knights tied the game after a gritty goal from Martinez on a rebound from a Shea Theodore shot from the point.
The Golden Knights had some very good chances down the stretch, but they were not able to put one passed Binnington. The teams headed to overtime in another crazy game for the Blues and Golden Knights.
The Blues had a chance early in the overtime, but Torey Krug tripped up Reilly Smith early on and it sent the Golden Knights to yet another power play. The power play drought finally came to an end when Reilly Smith rifled the winner passed Binnington, Marchessault made a beautiful pass which set up the game sealing goal.
The Golden Knights played much better tonight and finally got a win in St. Louis. With the win, they stay in first place in the West Division. The Golden Knights and Blues go at it again tomorrow night, which will end the six game road trip for Vegas.