On Sunday, the Vegas Golden Knights (25-14-12) endured their third game in four nights against the Ottawa Senators (24-21-7). From the start, they lacked energy, never found their rhythm, and watched the Senators pour on the goals. Rasmus Andersson’s first goal as a Golden Knight was a small consolation in a crushing 7-1 loss.
Right from puck drop, the Golden Knights looked lethargic. The Senators were a step ahead and recorded the first four shots on goal.
Mitch Marner had a chance to give his team the lead with a penalty shot just 1:36 into the game, but couldn’t convert.
The Senators took the lead at 9:25 in the first period on their fifth shot of the game. Stephen Halliday forced a turnover and worked the puck deep for Fabian Zetterlund. Zetterlund drifted below the goal line and banked a shot off of Kaedan Korczak and into the net.
The Golden Knights seemed to wake up after Zetterlund’s goal and recorded the next four shots of the game. They had a chance to get back into the fight with a power play to end the first period, which included a brief 5-on-3. However, despite a volley of chances, they couldn’t convert.
The Senators doubled their lead at 5:51 in the second period— their first shot since Zetterlund’s goal. Thomas Chabot intercepted Kaedan Korczak’s clearing attempt and held the line. He found Brady Tkachuk at the half wall, who fired a shot-pass to Ridly Greig in the left circle. Greig threaded a centering pass to Dylan Cozens atop the crease, and Cozens banged it in.
The Senators added another on their next shot just 16 seconds later. Jeremy Lauzon lost a board battle, and Dylan Cozens worked it deep for Brady Tkachuk. Tkachuk went low-to-high for Tyler Kleven, who set up Jordan Spence for a one-time blast from the point.
The Senators struck again at 17:50 in the second period. The Golden Knights couldn’t clear the zone, and Claude Giroux sent a cross-ice pass to Tim Stützle. Stützle protected the puck, surveyed the ice, and centered for Thomas Chabot. Chabot touched the pass to Stephen Halliday in the right circle, and Halliday ripped it home.
For the second time in three games, the Golden Knights entered the third period down 4-0. This time, however, they didn’t fight back and instead allowed three goals in 2:34.
The Senators scored a fifth goal at 1:22 in the third period. Tomáš Hertl turned the puck over to Dylan Cozens, who banked a stretch pass to Brady Tkachuk at center ice. Tkachuk raced into the zone, pulled up, and found the trailing Cozens. Cozens drove into the slot and ripped a shot past Adin Hill.
The Senators struck again 43 seconds later. Stephen Halliday won the offensive zone draw, drove the center of the ice, and tipped Tyler Kleven’s shot home for his second of the night.
The Senators added insult to injury with a seventh goal at 3:56 in the third. Jonas Røndbjerg broke up Shane Pinto’s pass for Thomas Chabot, but Chabot got to the puck first. He rimmed it around for Nick Jensen, who fired a shot that changed directions in front of the net and snuck past Adin Hill.
The Golden Knights broke the shutout at 15:05 in the third period. Tomáš Hertl fired a shot from distance, and Mads Soogard kicked it out. The rebound came right to Rasmus Andersson, who walked in and stuffed it home for his first as a Golden Knight.
And that was that. There was no fight, no dramatic comeback, and nothing to like from the Golden Knights’ shocking 7-1 loss.
