7 Observations: Golden Knights Score Late, Sneak Past Canucks

On Sunday, the Vegas Golden Knights (47-22-8) looked to sweep both back-to-back games for the third straight time. It wasn’t their prettiest win of the season, but that’s exactly what they did. The Golden Knights broke the tie with just over three minutes remaining in the third period and locked down a 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks (35-29-13).

The Canucks had all the momentum from puck drop; it was all the Golden Knights could do to weather the storm. 

At 4:46 in the first period, the Canucks broke the ice. Marcus Pettersson held the line and dumped the puck to Brock Boeser. Boeser centered to Pius Suter who flung a shot on net. Adin Hill made the save, but Nils Höglander chipped in the rebound. 

Less than four minutes later, the Golden Knights tied it up. Mark Stone entered the zone with the puck and fed Ivan Barbashev. Barbashev got around Filip Hronek, drove the net, and waited out Kevin Lankinen for a beauty of a goal. 

Five minutes later, the Golden Knights took the lead from a fortunate bounce. Nic Roy fed Tanner Pearson, who entered the zone and dropped a pass back to Roy. Kevin Lankinen kicked out Roy’s one-timer, but the puck bounced off Victor Mancini’s skate and into the net.

At 8:03 in the second period, the Canucks evened the score. Filip Hronek wristed a shot on net. Adin Hill made the save, but Aatu Räty, who entered the crease and initiated contact, knocked in the rebound. The Golden Knights challenged for goaltender interference, but the goal stood. 

The Golden Knights broke the tie with 3:14 remaining in the third period. William Karlsson cut through the neutral zone, entered the zone, and swung around the Canucks net. He backhanded a centering pass, and Victor Olofsson beat Kevin Lankinen glove side. 

The Canucks pulled Kevin Lankinen for the extra attacker, but Adin Hill and the Golden Knights were up to the task.

Three stars of the game: Victor Olofsson, Kevin Lankinen, William Karlsson

7 Golden Knights Observations

1. The Golden Knights won, so the controversial call in the second period didn’t carry as much weight as it could have. However, I didn’t understand the decision to uphold Aatu Räty’s goal in the second period. Maybe I’ll never fully understand goaltender interference, but it looked clear-cut. The Canucks didn’t score on the ensuing power play, but this is the kind of call that dictates a playoff game or even a series.

2. The line of Victor Olofsson-William Karlsson-Reilly Smith looked great for the second day in a row. Even before Olofsson scored the go-ahead goal, they were arguably the most consistent line on Sunday. I don’t know who sits when Tomáš Hertl returns from injury, but it probably shouldn’t be Olofsson. 

3. After being pulled in his last start, Adin Hill was exceptional on Sunday. Moneypuck has him with just .34 goals saved above expected, but that seems low. He was the best penalty killer on the ice and made 19 saves, none bigger or more impressive than this one.

4. This is the fourth straight game in which Jack Eichel has been held off the score sheet, which doesn’t bode well for his quest to a 100-point season.

5. What a goal from Ivan Barbashev. He’s been quiet for a little while, but this is the time of year that you want him heating up. When the Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup in 2023, Barbashev had 18 points in 2 games. He can be an X-Factor.

6. William Karlsson is a very good hockey player, but this Golden Knights power play desperately misses Tomáš Hertl in the bumper. Hertl ties it together in a way that Karlsson can’t. 

7. On the topic of the power play, I like Cassidy’s decision to swap Noah Hanifin for Shea Theodore on the top unit. Theodore and Eichel have insane chemistry, and though the power play didn’t convert on Sunday, they had their fair share of looks. It’s only a matter of time.