When the Vegas Golden Knights took on the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday night, they did so without five key regular players – Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, Mark Stone, Noah Hanifin and Shea Theodore. If you think this would be a recipe for disaster, you would be partially right.
“[We knew] “We needed everybody to step up and play a good, hard game,” Colton Sissons said after the 6–4 win.
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 the salary cap total of $46,275,000, the Golden Knights managed to hold off a defensively strong division rival by six.
What changed in the third period?
“I’m not quite sure,” Sissons admitted after the game. “We obviously made some attacks, and we were able to capitalize on our opportunities… Things can change quickly in this game, especially after such a long hiatus.”
The Golden Knights broke the ice at 10:59 of the first period. Reilly Smith made a great play on a 2-on-1 with Tanner Lazinski and Pavel Dorofeyev near the wall. Lazinski’s shot went wide, but the puck took an awkward jump off the end board and Dorofeyev slammed it home.
The Kings responded on the first power play at 14:31. 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 of the second period. Kaidan Korczak turned the puck over after driving into the offensive zone, and Adrian Kempe tipped it to Artemi Panarin the other way. Panarin received a cross-ice pass past Anze Kopitar; Kopitar sent a touch-pass to running back Kempe, who finished the game.
In the third period, everything changed. Both teams got their looks, but the Golden Knights converted more of them.
The Golden Knights tied it at 8:07 of the third period. Adin Hill sent a stretch pass to Brayden Bowman, who made a play along the wall to get the puck to Colton Sissons. Sissons entered the field, played catch with Bowman and dodged Anton Forsberg.
The Golden Knights took the lead at 11:16 of the third minute. Colton Sissons drove into the zone, but was pushed off the puck by Joel Armia. Brandon Saad reached him first, turned back and fired a shot. Mikey Anderson got in the way, but Saad blocked the rebound and beat Anton Forsberg from distance.
Just 1:05 later, the Golden Knights doubled their lead. Reilly Smith went coast-to-coast; After moving into the offensive zone, he dodged Brandt Clark and Joel Edmundson, protected the puck and covered the backhand.
The Kings made it a one-goal game at 13:26 of the third minute. Andrei Kuzmenko took a hit into the back of the net to tie the game and Quinton Byfield scored his second goal of the night.
The Golden Knights restored their two-goal lead on the power play at 15:59 of the third, after Jeremy Lauzon drew a penalty. Tanner Lazinski found Pavel Dorofeyev back-door for his second goal of the game.
The Kings pulled Anton Forsberg for an extra attacker with 3:39 remaining in regulation, and it paid off. Adrian Kempe set up Brandt Clark for a one-timer, and the defenseman scored from the point.
After once again trailing by only one goal, the Kings again pulled Forsberg for an extra attacker. However, this time, they could not make the change. Tomas 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 another third period comeback and an all-important regulation victory over a division rival.
“That’s what good teams do,” Pavel Dorofeyev said after the game. “No matter what, they embrace each other. Maybe we looked a little different on paper tonight, but we’re still the Golden Knights.”
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