Well, if you’re a VGK fan, this is more than possible and it all has to do with their game last night against defending Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning.

As I watch games, I takes notes that help me recap my thoughts for these posts. At the game’s 10-minute mark, I wrote, “First 10 minutes, all VGK.” Thirty minutes later, I wrote, “Surprisingly, still all VGK.”

And then the Knights didn’t show up for the 3rd period; they did not have even one shot on goal for the entire period. Technically, they were credited with one shot with 3 minutes left in the game, but that came from 90 feet away from Andrei Vasilevskiy. It’s almost impossible to score from just 5 feet away from Tampa Bay’s goaltender, so a shot from 90 feet is mission impossible. Still, Vegas avoided the embarrassment of going an entire period without a shot on goal.

Somehow, with smoke and mirrors, Vegas found a way to overcome the fact that they only played 40 minutes of the first 60 and hung on for a 3-2 win in a shootout that took 7 shooters to complete. Mark Stone was the 7th shooter.

Tampa Bay is a good team. Some may consider them a great team. They’ve won the Stanley Cup the last 2 seasons. Good teams find a way, and last night, you knew that Tampa Bay would make some sort of push in the 3rd period. But nothing like we all had to sit through in yesterday’s version of hockey hell on a Saturday afternoon if you’re a VGK fan. Tampa scored twice to wipe away Vegas’ dominating performance.

The last time these 2 teams met in December at T-Mobile, Vegas also had a 2-goal lead halfway through the 2nd period, but blew it on the way to a Tampa Bay come-from-behind victory. Was the same thing about to happen again? It didn’t, but it was an emotional roller coaster ride, not only for the players and coaching staff, but for anyone watching the game as a VGK fan.

You were happy that they won this game and completed a successful road trip, earning 5 points against 4 tough teams in 6 nights. But you were pissed off at the same time that they were basically a no-show in the 3rd period.

Vegas had 4 odd-man rushes in the 3rd period, but didn’t get a shot on Vasilevskiy. Combined with no other shots and again blowing a 2-goal lead in the 3rd period, if all that doesn’t piss you off, there is something wrong with you.

Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone have returned to the lineup, but it’s clear they’re either still nursing injuries or their timing is way off. Chandler Stephenson and Dylan Coghlan were out after joining the long list of VGK who have passed through the COVID protocol. The top 6 forwards are not producing, but you can thank the bottom 6 forwards for the five road-trip points; they scored 5 of the VGK’s 7 goals Vegas in the 4 games.

To further focus on the Stone-Pacioretty mystery, how does Nolan Patrick go before either one of them in the shootout? Stone was used, but only after DeBoer sent out 6 other players first. Nolan Patrick’s shootout attempt never even hit the net. Granted, Stone has only converted on 3 of 13 shootouts but I’m still sending Stone and Pacioretty out before Patrick if they’re healthy.

Robin Lehner played well once again yesterday and the 2 goals that Tampa scored were dirty goals in the blue paint. One was actually put in by Zach Whitecloud in his attempt to help Lehner clear the puck. All 4 goals scored in the first 60 minutes were from less than 5 feet from the goal line.

Other game notes and quotes.

Coming into yesterday’s game, Lehner had never beaten Tampa Bay. He was 0-5-1.

Vegas went 0-1 on the power play yesterday and went 0-11 on this 4-game road trip.

Vegas scored only 7 goals in 4 games during regulation, and won 2 of these games and lost one in OT.
“It was a tough road trip and a good test for us,” Lehner said. “This was a big [two points] for us. I tried to do my best and got a couple of nice goals from the guys. They stepped up and scored a bunch for me. That was nice.”

“We might not have any points without the depth scoring we’re getting between the fourth line (Carrier, Howden, Keegan Kolesar) and the defensemen,” said Vegas Coach Peter DeBoer.

“It was a [heck] of a road trip for us. Five out of eight points against these teams (Lightning, Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals) and dealing with adversity again right up until this morning with two guys getting pulled for COVID.”

DeBoer also said even though Robin Lehner was perfect in the Washington game, he thought Lehner played better yesterday than his shutout against the Caps on Monday.

Robin Lehner, who has had his troubles in the past with shootouts, has won 3 of 4 this season so far.

Howden has more than earned his ice time and has scored 2 goals with 1 assist in his last 3 games and in my opinion should play ahead of Kolesar. Howden had 1 goal in 42 games last year playing with the NY Rangers; he has 6 goals this year in 32 games with Vegas.

Buffalo, which is also known as VGK East, returns to play the VGK on Tuesday Feb 2 at T-Mobile at 7 p.m.

Buffalo has 5 former VGK on their roster: Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs, Colin Miller, Cody Eakin, and Malcolm Subban. Tuch has 12 points in his last 11 games (4G, 8A). Krebs has 3 goals and 1 assist in his last 3 games.

My 3 Stars of the Game: Willaim Carrier (1G, 1A, and 4 SOG), Brett Howden (1G, 1A), Robin Lehner (27 saves on 29 shots and spectacular in the shootout)

Your comments and opinions are welcome here at Las Vegas Advisor or you may contact me directly at [email protected] or on my Facebook page or the Facebook page of Vegas Hockey Guy or on Twitter @TheRealJoePane

For more VGK content, check out the Hockey Knights in Vegas Podcast that can be found at this link or on my Facebook page.

One other note: If you’re reading this blog from Facebook or Twitter and would like to access it earlier in the morning before I share it on social media, it’s usually published by 8 a.m. the morning after a game on LasVegasAdvisor.com. What better way is there to enjoy your morning coffee than reading my take on last night’s VGK game.

Howden opening goal
Carrier’s greasy dirty goal
Round #7 in the shootout