‘Pretty Sad’ That Golden Knights Couldn’t Close Out Game

The Vegas Golden Knights allowed a late goal to Tyler Johnson with just 45 seconds left in regulation and the Chicago Blackhawks tied the game, forced overtime, and then won the game in the shootout 3-2. The late goal came as Alex Pietrangelo sat in the box due to a delay of game penalty.

This is the second time in as many games the VGK have taken a late delay of game penalty as Alec Martinez did it against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

"We did that the other night. We've got to manage it better with the time and score. It's situational hockey… It's veteran guys that just have to manage it better in those situations. In the first period, you get it. But late in the game, you have to bear down," said head coach Bruce Cassidy.

The Golden Knights are 1-1 after these two mishaps with veteran defensemen. Pietrangelo's penalty didn't singlehandedly cost the Golden Knights the game, as they had the opportunity for the penalty kill, and if not, a win in overtime. But the VGK failed to take advantage of second chances.

"For us it's about bearing down there the last two minutes, not taking the penalty, and getting the kill done. LB (Laurent Brossoit) stood on his head for us many times… for us to give him that outcome it's pretty sad for us," said Keegan Kolesar, who scored Tuesday night.

The Golden Knights were given another extra chance to put the game away in the shootout after Patrick Kane's overtime winner was called back for coming after the buzzer. But yet again, they failed to take advantage of it and the Blackhawks went on to win in the shootout.

“We just had to beat them twice,” Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson joked.

Simply put, the Golden Knights threw away a crucial extra point against a weak opponent Tuesday night. Their All-Star Break-emerging, five-game winning streak has ended with a loss to one of the worst teams in the National Hockey League. And they did it in front of a veteran backup goaltender who put up a strong performance in his first game in almost over a calendar year, Laurent Brossoit.

Head coach Bruce Cassidy likely had plenty to say to his team after this unacceptable loss.

The Golden Knights will play the Calgary Flames on Thursday at home at 6:00 p.m.