Golden Knights Victorious In Strange Game, Lose Stone To Injury

The Vegas Golden Knights (28-13-2, 58 points) defeated the Florida Panthers (19-20-4, 42 points) in perhaps one of the strangest games in VGK history for their first game back after a four-day break. There were multiple strange goals, wacky stats, 5 on 3 powerplays, captains leaving, fights, and much more. 

The Panthers remain winless at T-Mobile Arena, going 0-4-1. The Golden Knights gain separation from the LA Kings, who were tied with the VGK in the standings before the game started.

Mark Stone left the game with an upper-body injury and did not return.

FIRST PERIOD

• No lineup changes were made for the Golden Knights, other than Adin Hill getting the start.
• Alex Pietrangelo joined the play and got a nice shot attempt on Sergei Bobrovsky after a faceoff.
• 1-0 FLA GOAL- Aaron Ekblad beat Adin Hill on a breakaway, and the puck lay on the goal line before Nick Cousins put it in. However, the net was knocked off its moorings by Eric Staal before the puck was in. Given that Staal fell because Ben Hutton shoved him, the play was deemed a goal.
• Technically speaking, the Panthers never registered a shot on goal in the play and didn't until 8:23 was left in the first period.
• FIGHT- Keegan Kolesar had one monster shift, laying a big hit on Brandon Montour and then fighting Givani Smith.

• Sergei Bobrovsky turned the puck over to Paul Cotter and was forced to make a huge save on Jonathan Marchessault in recovery.
• Jack Eichel fed Jonathan Marchessault on a break to the net, and Sergei Bobrovsky was forced to make another desperation save.
• The Golden Knights had all the pressure in the first period, but just couldn't score. Alec Martinez hit a post.
• Mark Stone went to the Golden Knight's locker room around the halfway point of the first period and did not return.
• Nicolas Hague made a couple of nice plays without a stick, using his long giraffe legs to move the puck.
• Shots were 14-10 Golden Knights after a wacky first period.

SECOND PERIOD

• The Golden Knights announced at the beginning of the second period that Mark Stone would not return to the game with an upper-body injury.
• 1-1 VGK GOAL- Keegan Kolesar made a nice play on the wall to get a puck to Nicolas Roy, who scored a big goal to start the period.

• With the lines shuffled due to Mark Stone's injury, Will Carrier got a grade-A chance alongside Jack Eichel and Jonathan Marchessault.
• Chandler Stephenson made a nice pass from behind the net to Jack Eichel, but he was stopped by Sergei Bobrovsky.
• Tons of whistles for things like hand passes, offsides, and pucks going out of play slowed the momentum of the game.
• VGK PP- William Karlsson collided with Sergei Bobrovsky and was called for goaltender interference. 
• 2-1 FLA GOAL- The Panthers took advantage of a broken stick and scored on the powerplay. Sam Reinhart scored.
• Matthew Tkachuk caused a ruckus behind the Golden Knight's net and a massive scrum. Two penalties to each team were handed out.
• NO GOAL- Anton Lundell scored on a sharp angle on Adin Hill, but the Golden Knights challenged for offsides and were correct. No goal.
• On a breakaway, Anton Lundell had a chance to score on Adin Hill by the rulebook, but he missed the net.

THIRD PERIOD

• Matthew Tkachuk and Alex Pietrangelo had a bit of a war going on after their scrum. Tkachuk crushed Pietrangelo with a big hit early in the third.
• FLA 5 on 3 PP- Nicolas Roy caught Anton Lundell with a high stick. Not long after, Alex Pietrangelo was called for tripping.
• The Golden Knights came up with a huge penalty kill.
• 2-2 VGK GOAL- Right on cue, Jack Eichel stepped up and performed in a close-knit game. He scored on a mini-breakaway five-hole.

• Sam Bennett was stopped by Adin Hill on a drive to the net from the left wing of the ice.
• Reilly Smith had two massive chances to get the go-ahead goal. One on a breakaway and one on a cross-ice path.
• 3-2 VGK GOAL- Will Carrier crashed into the Panthers' net and took the puck with him. The Panthers challenged for goalie interference. 

• VGK PP- Upon review, the goal stood because Brandon Montour pushed Will Carrier into the net. The Panthers got a penalty for an incorrect challenge.
• Sergei Bobrovsky was pulled with just under a minute and a half remaining in the game. No dice.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS NOTES

• A goal that was scored without a shot, a fight, a disallowed goal, some massive scrums, a 5-on-3 powerplay, and tons of chances resulted in both a wacky and highly-entertaining game between the Golden Knights and the Panthers.
• Keegan Kolesar had one of his strongest games of the season Thursday night, throwing big hits, getting in a fight, and having a nice assist to Nicolas Roy on his goal. 
• Only a few players in the NHL can get under the skin of players like Alex Pietrangelo and Chandler Stephenson. Matthew Tkachuk is one of them.
• Nicolas Roy is now on a four-game point streak with three goals and two assists for five points_ .
• In late close-knit games, you have to rely on your star players, and Jack Eichel scored a clutch goal in the third period.
• Unfortunately, Mark Stone left the game in the first period and did not return. He is in danger of missing his first game of the season. Only Chandler Stephenson, Reilly Smith, William Karlsson, Brayden McNabb, and Phil Kessel have played in every game for the VGK this season.

VHN's Player of the Game: Keegan Kolesar

Best game of the season for KK, who was only a goal away from completing a Gordie Howe hat-trick. Two assists and a fight.

Up Next: The Golden Knights will play the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.