Hannah Kirkell
When the Vegas Golden Knights took the ice against the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday night, they did so without five key regulars– Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, Mark Stone, Noah Hanifin, and Shea Theodore. If you think that would be a recipe for disaster, then you’d be partially right.
“[We knew] we were going to need everybody to step up and play a good, hard game,” said Colton Sissons following the 6-4 victory.
And that’s exactly what happened.
The Golden Knights entered the third period trailing the Kings 2-1, but scored three goals in 4:14. Despite missing a total of $46,275,000 of salary cap, the Golden Knights managed to put six past a defensively sound division rival.
What changed in the third period?
“I’m not quite sure,” admitted Sissons postgame. “We obviously created some offense, and we were able to capitalize on our chances… Things can change quickly in this game, especially coming off a long hiatus like that.”
The Golden Knights broke the ice at 10:59 in the first period. Reilly Smith made a great play along the wall to spring Tanner Laczynski and Pavel Dorofeyev on a 2-on-1. Laczynski’s shot went wide, but the puck took a weird hop off the end boards, and Dorofeyev slammed it home.
The Kings responded on the power play at 14:31 in the first. Artemi Panarin sent a centering pass to Quinton Byfield in the slot, who put it past Adin Hill.
The Kings took the lead at 14:44 in the second period. Kaedan Korczak turned the puck over after driving into the offensive zone, and Adrian Kempe sprung Artemi Panarin back the other way. Panarin got a cross-ice pass across to Anže Kopitar; Kopitar sent a touch-pass to the trailing Kempe, who finished off the play.
In the third period, everything changed. Both teams got their looks, but the Golden Knights converted on more of them.
The Golden Knights found the equalizer at 8:07 in the third period. Adin Hill sent a stretch pass to Braedan Bowman, who made a play along the wall to get the puck to Colton Sissons. Sissons entered the zone, played catch with Bowman, and chipped the puck past Anton Forsberg.
The Golden Knights took the lead at 11:16 in the third. Colton Sissons entered the zone, but Joel Armia pushed him off the puck. Brandon Saad got to it first, curled back, and fired a shot. Mikey Andersson got in the way, but Saad corralled the rebound and beat Anton Forsberg far-side.
Just 1:05 later, the Golden Knights doubled their lead. Reilly Smith went coast-to-coast; after he drove into the offensive zone, he cut through Brandt Clarke and Joel Edmundson, protected the puck, and roofed a backhand.
The Kings made it a one-goal game at 13:26 in the third. Andrei Kuzmenko took a hit behind the net to make the play, and Quinton Byfield scored his second of the night.
After Jeremy Lauzon drew a penalty, the Golden Knights restored their two-goal lead on the power play at 15:59 in the third. Tanner Laczynski found Pavel Dorofeyev back-door for his second goal of the game.
The Kings pulled Anton Forsberg for the extra attacker with 3:39 remaining in regulation, and it paid off. Adrian Kempe set up Brandt Clarke for a one-timer, and the defenseman scored from the point.
Down by just one goal once more, the Kings again pulled Forsberg for the extra attacker. This time, however, they couldn’t convert. Tomáš Hertl forced a turnover, and Ivan Barbashev hit the empty net.
Despite missing five of their most important offensive players, the Golden Knights rallied for yet another third-period comeback and held on for an all-important regulation win over a division rival.
“That’s what good teams do,” said Pavel Dorofeyev postgame. “They pick each other up, no matter what. Maybe we looked a little bit different on paper tonight, but we’re still the Golden Knights.”
