On Saturday, the Vegas Golden Knights (16-7-10) played the first of a road back-to-back against the Calgary Flames (15-17-4). The Flames scored less than four minutes into the first period, and the Golden Knights spent the rest of the night chasing the game. Mark Stone scored late to make things interesting, but the Flames found the empty net for a 6-3 win.
The Flames struck just 3:54 into the first period. Mackenzie Weegar forced a turnover at his own blue line, and Mikael Backlund corralled the puck in the neutral zone. He entered the zone and found Connor Zary, who waited out a sliding Mitch Marner and got a shot on net. Blake Coleman took a whack at it, and Backlund potted Coleman’s rebound.
The Flames doubled their lead at 8:42 in the first. Yan Kuznetsov fired a shot as Adam Klapka crashed the net. Kuznetsov’s shot went in off of Klapka, and then Klapka ran over Akira Schmid after the play.
The Golden Knights cut the Flames’ lead to one at 10:03 in the first. Mark Stone sent a stretch pass to Reilly Smith, who had just hopped on the ice. On a breakaway, Smith went forehand-backhand and beat Devin Cooley.
The Flames regained their two-goal lead at 15:45 in the first. Jonathan Beecher intercepted Mark Stone’s pass and sprung Connor Zary and Ryan Lomberg on a 2-on-0. Zary entered the zone and chipped a pass ahead to Lomberg, who went top-shelf.
The Flames extended their lead at 8:38 in the second period. Connor Zary stopped the Golden Knights’ clear in the neutral zone, waited for his team to get onside, and sent a cross-ice pass for Mackenzie Weegar. Weegar entered the zone and found Mikael Backlund streaking towards the net. Akira Schmid made the save, but Backlund banged in his own rebound.
The Flames added another while shorthanded at 12:21 in the second. Mackenzie Weegar didn’t let Mitch Marner get a shot off, and Joel Farabee took off up ice with the puck. Farabee entered the zone, danced around a sliding Noah Hanifin, and bounced one in off the post.
The Golden Knights got one back at 14:34 in the second. Tomáš Hertl intercepted a Flames’ breakout attempt, and Mitch Marner collected the puck at center ice. Marner entered the zone, pulled up, and found Kaedan Korczak jumping into the play. Korczak received the pass and beat Devin Cooley far-side.
Down by three goals, the Golden Knights faced a mountain in the third period. They pushed, outshooting the Flames 21-5 and generating ten high-danger chances to Calgary’s two. However, they didn’t crack Devin Cooley until it was much too late.
The Golden Knights scored on the power play at 16:03 in the third. Noah Hanifin fired a shot wide of the net, but the puck took a weird bounce off the end boards. Mark Stone banked the fluttering puck off Devin Cooley’s shoulder and into the net.
Despite a spirited push, the Golden Knights couldn’t get another past Devin Cooley. They pulled Akira Schmid for the extra attacker, and Jonathan Huberdeau found the empty net.
7 Golden Knights Observations
1. The Golden Knights allowed the first goal for the 18th time this season. After tonight’s regulation loss, they have a record of 6-6-7 when allowing the first goal.
2. For the second consecutive game, the Golden Knights took the ice without Jack Eichel and Shea Theodore. Ivan Barbashev started the night centering Braedan Bowman and Mitch Marner. However, towards the end of the first period, Bruce Cassidy elevated Mitch Marner to the top line with Tomáš Hertl and Pavel Dorofeyev. Brandon Saad took Marner’s place alongside Barbashev and Bowman.
3. The Golden Knights played tonight without two of their best offensive players, but that wasn’t the main issue. Counting Jonathan Huberdeau’s empty netter, they allowed six goals for the second time this season. Akira Schmid wasn’t fantastic, but the team played very poorly in front of him.
4. Adam Klapka trucked Akira Schmid in the first period. The contact came mere moments after the puck went into the net, so the goal stood. With another game in 22 hours, the Golden Knights needed Carter Hart fresh, so it’s possible that Schmid played banged up.
5. Five of the Flames’ six goals tonight came off the Golden Knights’ turnovers. They definitely missed Eichel and Theodore, but it was the self-inflicted wounds that sealed their fate.
6. The last time the Golden Knights lost a lopsided game was also the first game of a back-to-back. They turned around and rattled off a 4-3 win against the San Jose Sharks. Let’s see how they respond tomorrow against the Edmonton Oilers.
7. Tonight marked the Golden Knights’ first regulation loss against a division rival. They now have a record of 4-1-4 against Pacific Division teams.
