The Golden Knights extended their winning streak to four games with a convincing 3-0 win against the Canucks Sunday afternoon at T-Mobile Arena.
It was a dominant performance by the Knights, who outshot Vancouver 48-19. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped all 19 shots for his second straight shutout.
The first period was rather uneventful, with the exception of a Vegas power play (roughing call on Antoine Roussel). His roughing penalty against Cody Eakin awarded Vegas an extra player for two minutes, but it didn’t result in a goal for Vegas. The first period finished with a score of 0-0.
The first period was just a chance to start the explosive fire that would become the second period for Vegas. After going 25 minutes without any goals, Max Pacioretty fired a rocket past Canucks netminder Jacob Markstrom to give the Knights a 1-0 lead. It was his 21st goal of the season, which is now tops on the team.
GOAL. Max Pacioretty opens the scoring with a booming slapper from the point (!). pic.twitter.com/O3ZPQDzMrL
— Knights On Ice (@knightsonice) March 3, 2019
Ryan Carpenter managed to double Vegas’ lead a little less than three minutes later. Though Vancouver challenged for goaltender interference, the call on the ice stood, giving Vegas a 2-0 lead.
This one has to feel good. pic.twitter.com/KSveV2MQ7B
— Knights On Ice (@knightsonice) March 3, 2019
With just over a minute remaining in the middle frame, Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson set up a beautiful scoring opportunity for Reilly Smith, who grabbed his 13th goal of the season and third in his past three games.
Easy. pic.twitter.com/80D5Xu9TDe
— Knights On Ice (@knightsonice) March 3, 2019
Things cooled off in the third period, however. Vegas ended up with another power play opportunity with 15:39 left, yet nothing came to fruition.
Vegas had plenty of scoring chances during the third, which is more than can be said about Vancouver. They had nine minutes in the third where a shot wasn’t even attempted. They had a few good attempts with four minutes remaining, but Marc-Andre Fleury was a brick wall.
This was Fleury’s eighth shutout of the season. He now leads the league by two. He’s also one win from tying Jacque Plante for eighth all-time.
The Golden Knights picked up an important two points to extend their lead over the Coyotes for third place in the Pacific Division.
This win gives Vegas their fourth in a streak that began once Mark Stone joined the team. When Coach Gallant shook the lines up during the 2/17 game against the Nashville Predators, it seemed like that stoked the fires in players’ bellies once again. They had to prove themselves for their spot on certain lines, cement their worth.
With Stone joining the team, the fire appears to have been stoked once again. The players are more alive, more cohesive. Perhaps he should be the Blarney Stone, Vegas’ own good luck charm.
The Golden Knights now have the Calgary Flames in their stony sights. They will face the Pacific Division leaders Wednesday at 7 p.m. at T-Mobile Arena.