Golden Knights Fooled By Former Coach, Lose Defensemen To Injury

In a matinee Martin Luther King Day game, the Vegas Golden Knights (28-15-2, 58 points) were outplayed completely by the Dallas Stars (26-12-7, 59 points) and lost 4-0.

A lack of quality offensive chances combined with some rough defensive mistakes cost the VGK their second-straight loss. Jack Eichel had his second-straight weak game where the superstar looked invisible. More on him in the postgame story.

Former Golden Knights head coach Peter DeBoer made his return to T-Mobile Arena. Will Carrier and Mark Stone were out of the lineup with upper-body injuries, among others. Alec Martinez left the game in the second period and did not return.

FIRST PERIOD

• With Will Carrier rout of the lineup, Jonas Rondbjerg was recalled, and head coach Bruce Cassidy shuffled up his line combinations.
• Paul Cotter was but on the first line with Jack Eichel and Nicolas Roy, the Misfit Line was reunited, and Chandler Stephenson was moved to center.
• The first good chance of the night for the Golden Knights came when Alex Pietrangelo stepped into a big slapshot from the point.
• Logan Thompson came up with a big save on Frederik Olofsson after William Karlsson turned the puck over on a breakout.
• 1-0 DAL GOAL- Brayden McNabb and Michael Amadio couldn't connect on a breakout pass, and Jamie Benn scored in the slot with a screen.
• Peter DeBoer was honored for his time as head coach of the Golden Knights during the first TV timeout.

• VGK PP- Joel Kiviranta hit Kaedan Korczak in the face with a high stick.

SECOND PERIOD

• William Karlsson tipped a pass to the net on Jake Oettinger on a rush chance with Jonathan Marchessault.
• Jonas Rondbjerg found a loose puck and quickly put a wrist shot on goal, but was stopped.
• DAL PP- Nicolas Hague was called for holding Joe Pavelski, and the Stars went off on their first powerplay.
• Alec Martinez left the Golden Knights bench and did not return to the game
• DAL PP- Reilly Smith went to the box for a high stick.
• Halfway through the game, the Golden Knights were being outshot 20-8 by the Stars.
• The Golden Knights got Jake Oettinger woken up as the Misfits put together some good collective chances.
• 2-0 DAL GOAL- Joel Kiviranta's long shot from the point found a way through traffic and into the goal.
• VGK PP- Nicolas Hague was tripped from behind by Tyler Seguin, giving the VGK a critical late-period powerplay.
• On the powerplay, chances were there, but goals were not.

THIRD PERIOD

• Reilly Smith and William Karlsson went in on a 2-on-1 but missed the net on their shot attempt.
• It didn't seem like it, but the Golden Knights slowly narrowed the shot chances to 26-20 midway through the third.
• 3-0 DAL GOAL- Ryan Suter scored on a long-range wrist shot to send home "that" group of fans early as they beat the traffic.
• As time slowly ticked away on a potential Golden Knight's comeback, boobirds were heard inside T-Mobile Arena.
• Logan Thompson was pulled with over five minutes remaining in the game. Desperate measures.
• 4-0 DAL GOAL- Tyler Seguin sealed the deal with an empty-net goal.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS NOTES

• The Golden Knights struggled all night with two things: turnovers and shots on goal. At the halfway point of the game, the VGK had just eight shots on goal on young star goaltender Jake Oettinger. Defensive zone turnovers caused the first goal of the game, scored by Jamie Benn.
• Jack Eichel had another bad game, plain and simple. This is the second-straight game the star forward didn't show up for a crucial game.
• The Golden Knights remain first in the Pacific Divison, with the Seattle Kraken losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning today.
• A huge wasted powerplay opportunity late in the second period essentially cost the Golden Knights the game, as they were unable to score on it and gain any momentum heading into the third period.
• He has only missed two games, but the Golden Knights are already missing captain Mark Stone big time.

VHN's Player of the Game: Logan Thompson

LT had a strong game, and there really weren't any other solid options in this one.

Up Next: The Golden Knights will not play until Thursday at home against the Detroit Red Wings at 7:00 p.m.