Golden Knights Suffer Rare Road Loss, Also Lose Martinez

The Vegas Golden Knights (24-12-1, 49 points) lost just their third regulation road game Monday night to the Los Angeles Kings (20-12-6, 46 points) Monday night 4-2 in their first game back from the holiday break. The Kings move within three points of the Golden Knights for the top spot in the Pacific Division standings.

Former Kings Michael Amadio and Brayden McNabb scored for the Golden Knights. Also, a former King, Alec Martinez, left the game in the second period after blocking a shot. He did not return.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS TAKEAWAYS

• It was an overall tight game between two good Pacific Division teams who could very likely meet in the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season.
• Michael Amadio had yet another strong game on the Golden Knight's first line. He not only scored, but passed the puck well, drew a penalty, and was a key part of the top powerplay units' success. He now has goals in three straight games for the first time in his career.
• Two former LA Kings scored in their revenge game, with Michael Amadio and Brayden McNabb getting goals.
• The Golden Knight's powerplay scored yet again and is now 14/35 in the month of December, good for 40%.
• Mark Stone played in his 37th game of the season Monday, which was the total number of games he was able to play all of last season due to injuries.

FIRST PERIOD

• The Golden Knights made no lineup changes, and Jonas Rondbjerg, Pavel Dorofeyev, and Brayden Pachal remained in the lineup despite CapFriendly saying that the trio had been assigned the Henderson Silver Knights. Logan Thompson got the start against Pheonix Copley for the Kings.
• An errand pass went right to Viktor Arvidsson, and Logan Thompson was forced to make a big save. 
• The Golden Knights shook off a little bit of rust from the Holiday break.
• Kevin Fiala centered a puck to Adrian Kempe, who missed the net on a shot from the slot.
• The Golden Knights first scoring attempt came from Nicolas Hague, a long floater that bounced to the glove of Pheonix Copley.
• VGK PP- Michael Amadio worked hard on the forecheck to force Kevin Fiala to take a holding penalty.
• Pavel Dorofeyev, Daniil Miromanov, and Mark Stone had some good attempts on the powerplay, but the Kings killed.
• Logan Thompson fell down behind his net, likely losing an edge and giving nearby spectators a laugh.
• 1-0 LAK GOAL- Daniil Miromanov and Brayden McNabb miscommunicated a breakout pass, and Gabe Vilardi scored off the turnover.
• VGK PP- Gabe Vilardi then cross-checked Reilly Smith, who was trying to dump in a puck, and went to the box.
• 1-1 VGK GOAL- On the ensuing powerplay, Michael Amadio scored on a one-timer from Alex Pietrangelo.

• Michael Amadio now had goals in three-straight games for the first time in his career.
• LAK PP- But Michael Amadio was unable to celebrate for long as he took a tripping penalty, which the Golden Knights killed.
• Jonas Rondbjerg had one more chance for the Golden Knights in the period, hitting a post on a shot entering the zone.

SECOND PERIOD

• Anze Kopitar found a loose puck in the slot but just missed the net on his scoring chance.
• LAK PP- Nicolas Hague was called for hooking Adrian Kempe.
• The Golden Knights were trapped in their own zone, killing the Nicolas Hague penalty. Three of the four penalty killers were out for the full two minutes.
• Just as the powerplay ended, Logan Thompson made a big save on Viktor Arvidsson, who was set up by Phillip Danault.
• 2-1 VGK GOAL- After a Brayden Pachal point shot, Reilly Smith found the rebound and fed Brayden McNabb, for his first goal of the season.

• The Golden Knights were without Alec Martinez, who left the game blocking a shot on his leg from Alex Iafallo. He did not return.
• VGK PP- Brendan Lemieux was called after getting into a scrum with Will Carrier.
• Rasmus Kupari worked hard for a strong shorthanded chance, but Logan Thompson came up with the stop.
• 2-2 LAK GOAL- Phillip Danault and the Kings answered after sustained zone pressure.
• Michael Amadio made a nice pass to Jake Leschyshyn in the slot, but he was stopped by Pheonix Copley.

THIRD PERIOD

• The Golden Knights had an odd-man rush as Mikey Anderson blew a tire, and Mark Stone and Michael Amadio went off for a chance, but Amadio couldn't settle Stone's pass.
•  3-2 LAK GOAL- After a delayed high-stick was called off, Mark Stone lost an edge at center ice which set the Kings off on the rush. Alex Iafallo made a drive to the net and scored after Phillip Danault gave him the puck.
• Reilly Smith had a partial break and almost found his own rebound, but was unable to finish off the play.
• Mark Stone and Nicolas Hague ran into each other, which led to a rush chance for the Kings, but a strong backcheck by Chandler Stephenson negated the opportunity.
• Off a faceoff, Michael Amadio got the puck to Mark Stone for a solid chance.
• Logan Thompson went to the Golden Knight's bench with roughly 1:40 left in the third period.
• 4-2 LAK GOAL- Viktor Arvidsson scored on the empty net.

VHN's Player of the Game: Michael Amadio

Great to see Amadio embracing his role on the Golden Knight's top line with players out due to injury.

Up Next: The Golden Knights will have plenty of opportunity to shed off the extra Christmas calories with another game tomorrow night against the Anaheim Ducks at 7:00 p.m.