Golden Game Gist: Another Home Loss For The Golden Knights

LAS VEGAS— The Vegas Golden Knights (21-10-1, 43 points) continued to struggle to score at home as they lost 4-2 to the New York Islanders (18-13-1, 37 points) Saturday night. They are now 8-8-0 on home ice this season and have scored just six goals in their last four home games. 

Alex Pietrangelo returned after missing nine games due to personal reasons. Mark Stone left the game in the third period with an apparent left leg injury but was able to return.

Although he left the game in the third with an apparent injury, Semyon Varlamov was stellar for the New York Islanders.

Golden Knights Lineup

Alex Pietrangelo made his return to the team, but Paul Cotter went out with an upper-body injury.

Phil Kessel- Chandler Stephenson- Mark Stone (c)

Reilly Smith- William Karlsson- Jonathan Marchessault

Jonas Rondbjerg- Jake Leschyshyn- Michael Amadio

William Carrier- Nicolas Roy- Keegan Kolesar

Ben Hutton- Alex Pietrangelo

Alec Martinez- Nicolas Hague

Brayden McNabb- Daniil Miromanov

Logan Thompson/Adin Hill

Out: Zach Whitecloud, Jack Eichel, Paul Cotter, Shea Theodore

FIRST PERIOD

• The fourth line for the Golden Knights of Keegan Kolesar, Nicolas Roy, and Will Carrier started yet again.
• Will Carrier had a big hit on Robin Salo near the Islanders' bench.
• Keegan Kolesar took the puck on a rush while Will Carrier made a break to the net, but Carrier crashed into Semyon Varlamov.
• Both teams were aggressive on the puck, which resulted in a tight game with few shots on goal.
• After a strong forecheck, Keegan Kolesar got the puck to Nicolas Roy aside the net, but he was stopped by Semyon Varlamov.
• NYI PP- Will Carrier leveled Robin Salo with a hit, but was called for interference.
• 4 ON 4- Mat Barzal evened up the penalties by hooking Brayden McNabb.
• Phil Kessel and William Karlsson team up for a good look four-on-four but were denied.
• 1-0 NYI GOAL- The Islanders scored the first goal of the game, with captain Andres Lee scoring in the slot.
• VGK PP- The Islanders ended the period by taking a penalty. Casey Cizikas went off for boarding Jonas Rondbjerg.
• Jake Leschyshyn stood up for his teammate and went after Cizikas, but he did not accept the invite.

SECOND PERIOD

• 1-1 VGK GOAL- The Golden Knights made some slick passes, and Reilly Smith scored on the powerplay after Josh Bailey failed to clear the puck. Smith is now the sole leader in goals for the Golden Knights with 15.

• 2-1 NYI GOAL- Hudson Fasching made a power move around Alex Pietrangelo and went upstairs on Logan Thompson for an impressive goal to give the Islanders the lead once more.
• Phil Kessel's quick shot right off the faceoff was stopped by Semyon Varlamov.
• The Golden Knight's fourth line continued to put together some good shifts with chances and zone time.
• Logan Thompson made a strong save on Anthony Beauvillier after Josh Bailey skated into the VGK's zone.
• Shots were 17-9 in favor of the Golden Knights in the second period, and the offense was there, but so was Semyon Varlamov.
• 3-1 NYI GOAL- Jean-Gabriel Pageau made a good keep-in at the blue line and got the puck to Simon Holmstrom, who scored his first-career NHL goal.
• At the buzzer, Casey Cizikas scored on Logan Thompson, but time had already run out in the second period.

THIRD PERIOD

• VGK PP- Hudson Fasching went off for holding Brayden McNabb.
• 3-2 VGK GOAL- Reilly Smith scored his second powerplay goal of the night early on the powerplay.

• Sebastian Aho blocked a prime-time scoring chance shot from Michael Amadio.
• NYI PP- Alex Pietrangelo was called for tripping Matt Martin.
• After killing the penalty, the Golden Knights were buzzing with opportunities from the first line.
• Tons of pressure from the Golden Knights continued, but they were unable to beat Semyon Varlamov.
• INJURY- Mark Stone was hit with a puck in the left leg. He was in some pain, left the game, but returned.
• Daniil Miromanov turned over the puck at the blue line, and Josh Bailey went in for a scoring chance but was stopped.
• Ilya Sorokin unexpectedly entered the game for the Islanders, likely due to a Semyon Varlamov injury.
• Logan Thompson was pulled with just under two minutes to go.
• 4-2 and 5-2 NYI GOAL- Brock Nelson and Zach Parise scored insurance empty-net goals.

VHN's Player of the Game: Reilly Smith, who had another two-goal performance.

Up Next: The Golden Knights will play the Buffalo Sabres at home on Monday at 7:00 p.m.