Golden Knights Play Lousy Game After Clinching Earlier In the Day

The Vegas Golden Knights (46-22-7-99 points) forced overtime against the San Jose Sharks (21-39-15, 57 points) but lost in overtime to Logan Couture's overtime game-winner. It was arguably one of their lousiest games of the season, but the Golden Knights clinched a playoff spot earlier in the day, with the Pittsburgh Penguins defeating the Nashville Predators, so there's that.

Laurent Brossoit got the start, Teddy Blueger and Paul Cotter alternated being healthy scratches, and Ben Hutton came in for the injured Shea Theodore.

FIRST PERIOD

• Ivan Barbashev picked off a pass at the Golden Knight's blue line and fed Jack Eichel for the first solid chance of the game. Eichel's shot hit the post.
• Brayden McNabb made a critical defensive play on Logan Couture on the Shark's first big chance of the game.
• 1-0 SJS GOAL- The Sharks scored the first goal of the game right off a clean faceoff win as Mario Ferraro fired a shot home from the point.
• SJS PP- Keegan Kolesar got caught holding the stick on Tomas Hertl, sending the Sharks to the power play.
• 4 on 4- Shorthanded, William Karlsson got to a loose puck but was tripped up by Tomas Hertl.
• SJS PP- Keegan Kolesar went back to the box as his stick caught the face of Marc-Edouard Vlasic.
• 2-0 SJS GOAL- The Sharks scored again as Oskar Lindblom slipped through the Golden Knight's defense, received a pass, and put home the shot.
• The Golden Knights failed to register a shot in over twelve minutes of play, having just two shots up until 5:38.
• Zach Whitecloud turned over the puck and sent Noah Gregor off on a rush, but he missed the net.
• 2-1 VGK GOAL- William Karlsson stole the puck from James Reimer behind the net, and Nicolas Hague eventually scored on a one-timer, with Reimer chasing to get back to the net.

SECOND PERIOD

• The Golden Knights slowly but surely got back into the game in the second, evening the shots and goals.
• VGK PP- Erik Karlsson tripped up Nicolas Roy and was called for tripping.
• 2-2 VGK GOAL- Nicolas Roy got tripped up once more, but while he was falling, he fed Ivan Barbashev for a powerplay goal with James Reimer scrambling.

• SJS PP- Involved again, Nicolas Roy tripped up Jacob Petersen and went to the box.
• 3-2 SJS GOAL- The Sharks capitalized with a goal off of a 3 on 2 with Tomas Hertl scoring.
• Jonathan Marchessault crushed Radim Simek with a huge hit by the boards.
• Through two periods, the Golden Knights had just nine shots on goal and did not have a shot in the last eight minutes of the second.

THIRD PERIOD

• The Golden Knights continued to struggle with their passing, allowing the Sharks to defend well and flip the switch getting chances the other way.
• Michael Amadio had a turn-around shot close to the net, but the Sharks managed the block it.
• Laurent Brossoit was forced to make a big save after Brett Howden turned over the puck.
• Logan Couture centered a pass to Tomas Bordeleau, who tipped the shot-pass wide.
• 3-3 VGK GOAL- Michael Amadio scored in front of the net after a rebound shot chance from Chandler Stephenson.

• The Golden Knights got a lot of momentum after the Michael Amadio goal, with the first line, led by Jack Eichel, getting some nice chances.
• VGK PP- William Karlsson drew yet another penalty as Jacob MacDonald tripped him up.
• The Golden Knights got a couple of solid chances on the powerplay, such as one by Pavel Dorofeyev.

OVERTIME

• 4-3 SJS GOAL- Logan Couture found separation and scored on Laurent Brossoit on a breakaway.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS NOTES

• This game was the result of a playoff-bound team taking their foot off the gas against an inferior opponent and losing as a result.
• The Golden Knights had just nine shots on goal through two periods and failed to generate any sort of offense for the majority of the night. 
• However, after Michael Amadio's game-tying goal, they had 13 shots in the final couple of minutes of regulation.
• The VGK have still never lost a (regular season) game in regulation at SAP Center. Their regular season record v SJS is now 20-2-4.
• Congrats to Shark's defenseman Henry Thrun for scoring two assists in his first NHL game.
• Nicolas Hague not only scored tonight but also apparently ran into an ice crew member by accident.

VHN's Player of the Game: William Karlsson.

Up Next: The Golden Knights will start a home-and-home series against Marc-Andre Fleury and the Minnesota Wild Saturday at T-Mobile Arena at 7:00 p.m.