The VGK usually outshoot their opponents, sometimes with a margin greater than 2-to-1, yet either struggle to win or actually lose the game.

In their last game at T-Mobile, the VGK outshot the Tampa Bay Lightning 41-to-19 for Tampa Bay, yet lost 5-4. Quantity over quality against Tampa Bay. Against Dallas on Dec. 8, they had 45 shots to Dallas’ 23, yet Vegas needed 3 goals in the 3rd period to squeeze out the 5-4 victory. Another case of quantity over quality.

But last night against the L.A. Kings, the VGK showcased some quality shots in their 6-3 win, avenging their 6-2 loss back on Oct. 14. Instead of just running up the SOG meter, the VGK made the most of their 27 shots, scoring on 3 consecutive shots in the first period, then on their first 2 shots of the 2nd period and on the first shot of the 3rd period.

They scored their first 2 goals just 26 seconds apart for the 2-0 lead. Then they responded to L.A.’s goal scored just 13 seconds after Keegan Kolesar tipped in Ben Hutton’s slap shot from the point with a goal by Jonathan Marchessault just 37 seconds later. All in all, 4 goals were scored in just 1:16 for a pretty wild first period. Vegas had 3 goals on just 8 shots on Jonathan Quick, who made a quick exit after giving up 5 goals in 22:47.

Quick was replaced by former VGK goaltender Garret Sparks who fared much better between the pipes, stopping 11 of the 12 shots he faced in his 37:13 of playing time. The only shot he didn’t stop was off a giveaway by Drew Doughty who gift-wrapped the puck for Marchessault, positioned in front of Sparks, for his second goal of the game and a team-leading 16th of the season.

In 55 games last season, Marchy scored 18 goals. He has 16 in just 28 games so far. Another interesting indicator for Marchy is that he has an 18.2% success rate. In the 2016-17 season with the Florida Panthers, he had a career high of 30 goals with a 15.54% success rate. He’s dialed in so far this season.

The Misfit line accounted for 6 points last night with Marchessault’s 2G and 1A, Reilly Smith’s PPG, and William Karlsson’s assist on Marchessault’s first goal that came off the post Karlsson hit, beating Quick; Marchy scooped it up and lifted it by Quick on his backhand.

The power play has come alive in December. The VGK have the most PPG in the month, 13 for 35, and scored 2 PPG last night.

Scoring has not been a problem this season. Goals allowed has. The VGK scored at least 3 goals in their last 24 games. They scored 3 goals or more in 8th straight road games and last night set a franchise record with their 6th straight road win.

What’s even more impressive about last night’s win was they accomplished this while missing Mark Stone, Alex Pietrangelo, and Robin Lehner and Pete DeBoer. Stone and Lehner were injury related and Pietrangelo and DeBoer were COVID related. Running a bench is not an easy task, but Steve Spott didn’t have a blemish with too many men on the ice during line changes and his power play scored 2.

Other game notes and quotes.

Chandler Stephenson praised Jonathan Marchessault. “I think he’s just always around the puck, always working hard.”

Stephenson has a 3-game point streak going. He’s scored four points (one goal, three assists) during the streak. It was also Stephenson’s third straight game with an assist

Andre Kopitar, who seems to be a VGK killer, had 26 points in the 22 games he has played against the VGK. Last night he did pick up 1 assist to break a tie with Wayne Gretzky for second place in Kings history. Fortunately, his assist had no effect on the final score. It took Kopitar 1,160 games to get 673 assists. Gretzky had his 672 assists in just 539 games. Speaking about quality over quantity.

My 3 stars of the Game: Jonathan Marchessault (2G 1A), Chandler Stephenson (1G, as the GWG, and 1A), Reilly Smith (1G, 1A)

Next game is Friday at 12 noon against Anaheim.

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 on YouTube.com 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.

4 goals in 1:16
Reilly Smith’s PPG
Marchessault’s 2nd goal of the night off of the turnover