Golden Knights Postgame: Pachal’s Impact, Lower-Body Injury To Martinez

The Vegas Golden Knights dropped their first game back from the NHL's Holiday Break Monday to the Los Angeles Kings 4-2 at Crypto.com Arena. The Golden Knights have not won three games in a row since their nine-game winning streak in November.

The team lost just their third road game in regulation. The only other two regulation road losses came to the Cagary Flames and Pittsburgh Penguins. But with the a two-game winning streak at home, perhaps things have evened out between the team's drastically different home and away records. The VGK will play eight of their next ten games at T-Mobile Arena.

Iced

Discussed frequently on the Golden Knights broadcast was the concerning ice levels at Crypto.com Arena. On the game-winning goal, Mark Stone lost an edge in the neutral zone, prompting the VGK to be out of position. 

"It was a pretty even game. Stoney (Mark Stone) loses an edge, they get the puck and come down three-on-two. Unfortunately that was the game-decider… At the end of the day it was the same for both. But it was warm out there and the puck was bouncing and it was sticky," added Karlsson," said Golden Knights forward William Karlsson.

Down D

Defensemen Alec Martinez left the game in the second period and did not return Monday. The NHL's leader in blocked shots saw his niche become his downfall as he blocked an Alex Iafallo shot with his leg.

Head coach Bruce Cassidy did not have an update on Martinez other than that he is out with a lower-body injury and that they will have a better idea tomorrow morning on his status.

If Martinez is down, this becomes the third Golden Knights defensemen out with an injury. Shea Theodore (week-to-week) and Zach Whitecloud (week-to-week) are also out with lower-body injuries.

Scratched defensemen Ben Hutton will likely be relied upon if Martinez is unable to go against the Ducks on Wednesday.

Pachal's Presence

Of all players, Brayden Pachal led the Golden Knights in shots Monday with four.

"I got on my offensive side tonight. I had a lot of shots on goal and created opportunities for other guys, so I just have to keep building on that and keep doing what has been making me successful which is being simple, hard, and pyscial when I can," said Pachal.

One of his shots led to a rebound chance for Reilly Smith, who fed Brayden McNabb for a goal. Pachal tallied his second-career NHL point with an assist on the play.

"It's nice to chip in when you can but I don't think it's my identity I think I am more of kind of a stay-at-home guy and I like to give the puck to the forwards and let them do the work. But any time you can chip in it feels nice," said Pachal.

Pachal is currently playing in the VGK's lineup ahead of Ben Hutton with Whitecloud and Theodore injured.

"He's been good for us, that's why he's here and in the lineup ahead of some other guys. He has been as advertized. We have asked him to be hard below the goal line, be physical when he can, and offensively take what is there," Cassidy

Powerful Powerplay

The VGK got another powerplay goal against the Kings, which pushes their December powerplay goal total to 14 goals, the most amount of PPG's they have scored in a single month. This gets them to operating at 40% with the PP going 14 for 35 in Dec.

The Golden Knights will be right back in action Wednesday night against the Anaheim Ducks at 7:00 p.m. on the road.