Golden Knights Lose Back-to-Back Road Games For First Time This Season

The Vegas Golden Knights (24-12-2, 50 points) put up over 50 shots on goaltender John Gibson but ultimately fell to the Anaheim Ducks (10-22-4, 24 points) in the shootout 3-2. This marks the first time the Golden Knights have lost back-to-back road games this season.

The VGK simply were unable to beat Gibson, who was returning from an injury for the majority of the game. The Golden Knights had their own goaltending problems, as Adin Hill was pulled in the first period after allowing two goals to Adam Henrique. 

Head coach Bruce Cassidy was trying to send messages to his team all night by pulling Hill and also putting the team's lines in the blender.

FIRST PERIOD

• With the Golden Knights playing a back-to-back, Adin Hill got the start, given Logan Thompson starting against the Kings.
• Ben Hutton was inserted into the lineup as Alec Martinez came out with a lower-body injury.
• Troy Terry fed Trevor Zegras for an early chance in the slot as the Ducks came out to a hot start.
• 1-0 ANA GOAL- Troy Terry found Adam Henrique, who scored on his own rebound before the Golden Knights could cover or clear.
• Reilly Smith and Phil Kessel combined for a strong chance while entering the zone.
• VGK PP- Mason McTavish was called for hooking Reilly Smith.
• VGK PP- The Golden Knights were then gifted a 1:51 long 5-on-3 advantage as Dmitry Kulikov flipped the puck over the glass for a delay of game.
• The Ducks came up with the kill, but the Golden Knights continued offensive pressure after the penalties.
• 2-0 ANA GOAL- Adam Henrique beat Adin Hill with a clapper from the blue line, which ended his night as head coach Bruce Cassidy decided to make a goaltending change. Logan Thompson entered the game.
• ANA PP- Phil Kessel took a slashing penalty, and the Golden Knights went to the power-kill.
• 2-1 VGK GOAL- Mark Stone provided a spark for the Golden Knights with a huge shorthanded goal created off pure effort.

• VGK PP- With just 16 seconds left on the Ducks' powerplay, Trevor Zegras took a holding penalty on Mark Stone.
• Trying to find a spark, Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy shuffled up his line combinations dramatically.

SECOND PERIOD

• Daniil Miromanov joined the play and got a shot on John Gibson, but was stopped.
• Pavel Dorofeyev took a shift on the top line with Mark Stone and Chanler Stephenson and got a grade-A chance in front of the net.
• VGK PP- William Karlsson kept the puck in the offensive zone for the VGK, which allowed a big chance for Reilly Smith and a rebound chance for Jonas Rondbjerg. Rondbjerg was then cross-checked from behind, which drew a penalty.
• John Gibson just got a piece on a shot from Pavel Dorofeyev on the powerplay.
• VGK PP- Right at the end of the first Golden Knights powerplay, the Ducks took another penalty as Simon Benoit went off.
• But the Ducks and John Gibson started the game 5/5 on the penalty kill.
• ANA PP- Essentially a makeup call, Pavel Dorofeyev was called for a high stick.
• 2-2 VGK GOAL- The Golden Knights chipped away all period on John Gibson and finally got a favorable bounce. Ben Hutton joined the play and got his first goal of the season off Urho Vaakanainen.

THIRD PERIOD

• Simon Benoit saved a goal diving to stop the remaining momentum of a Brayden Pachal shot.
•  ANA PP- Brayden Pachal then took a hooking penalty right as the puck lay in the Golden Knight's crease.
• Shorthanded, Chandler Stephenson, and Mark Stone had a chance but were denied.
• Adam Henrique, looking for his first career hat trick, ripped a sharp-angle shot on Logan Thompson.
• ANA PP- Nicolas Roy gifted the Ducks a late powerplay, tripping Troy Terry while fighting for the puck.
• The Golden Knights came up with a crucial penalty kill.
• On the 50th Golden Knights shot of the game, Nicolas Roy cut to the slot for a chance.

OVERTIME/SHOOTOUT

• The Ducks trapped the Golden Knights in their own zone for a long portion early in overtime.
• ANA PP- At the end of his shift, Mark Stone tripped Troy Terry for a Ducks powerplay. Ducks head coach Dallas Eakins used his timeout.
• The Golden Knights survived but lost in the shootout. Trevor Zegras and Troy Terry scored. Mark Stone and Reilly Smith did not.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS NOTES

• The Golden Knights followed Lil John's strategy and got tons of shot shots shots against the Ducks, putting up 51.
• John Gibson, who has faced the 10th most shots in the NHL, stood on his head for the Ducks in his first game back from injury.
• The Golden Knight's powerplay struggled, going 0-for-5 and missing on essentially two 5-on-3 opportunities.
• Head coach Bruce Cassidy was sending messages to his players all night. He pulled goaltender Adin Hill after he let in his second goal, benched Phil Kessel at times, and dramatically shuffled up the team's line combinations repeatedly to try and send a message/find a spark.
• Defensive injuries have been unfortunate, but the Golden Knight's strong defensive depth was on display once more, with guys like Ben Hutton, Daniil Miromanov, and Brayden Pachal stepping up. Hutton had seven shots on goal.
• Both teams finished 0-for-5 on the powerplay.
• Alex Pietrangelo played 34:16 in total Tuesday night, which sets a new career high for him in terms of TOI.

VHN's Star of the Game: Bruce Cassidy

For doing his best to get some life out of the Golden Knights.

Up Next: The Golden Knights have a New Year's Eve showdown with the Nashville Predators at 12:00 p.m. at home.