7 Observations: Golden Knights Rout Blues, Enjoy Night of Firsts

After a pitiful six-game homestand, the Vegas Golden Knights (8-9-4) desperately needed a win. They’d lost four in a row and recorded just two wins in their past nine games. Fortunately for the Golden Knights, the St. Louis Blues (6-9-4) didn’t present much of a challenge, and they rolled to a 4-1 victory.

Right from puck drop, the Blues seemed listless and disinterested. Conversely, the Golden Knights entered the game showing every ounce of desperation that their current situation demanded. In the first period, the Golden Knights controlled play and outshot the Blues 13-8. Their play paid off, and they capitalized twice.

At 12:52 in the first, Brandon Saad scored in his return to St. Louis. Brett Howden created a turnover, and Reilly Smith found Saad alone with a beautiful one-touch pass.

At 14:58 in the first, the Golden Knights scored on the power play. Jack Eichel fired a cross-ice pass to Pavel Dorofeyev, who fed Braedan Bowman for an easy tap-in.

In the second period, the Golden Knights stifled the Blues defensively, outshooting them 15-7. They scored just once, but the Blues looked more and more deflated with each passing minute.

Just 36 seconds into the second, Noah Hanifin blasted a one-timer past Joel Hofer.

The Golden Knights started the third period on the power play, but didn’t convert. However, they did kill off two penalties in dominant fashion. The Blues outshot them 9-5 in the third, but never looked engaged.

At 11:20 in the third, the Golden Knights scored the dagger. Pavel Dorofeyev forced a turnover and sprung Tomáš Hertl with a sauce-pass, who scored on the breakaway.

At 15:57 in the third, the Blues broke Akira Schmid’s shutout bid. Robert Thomas set up Philip Broberg, who beat Akira Schmid from the point through traffic.

Despite getting on the board, the Blues gained no momentum from Broberg’s goal. Instead, they sleepwalked through the remaining four minutes of regulation and went without a whimper.

7 Golden Knights Observations

1. The Golden Knights scored the first goal of the game tonight. This shouldn’t be noteworthy, but this season, it is. They’ve allowed the first goal of the game in 11 of their 17 games this season. This Golden Knights team can score, and they’re more than capable of a successful comeback. However, playing catch-up is very demanding. This isn’t a trend they’re eager to continue.

2. Braedan Bowman didn’t look out of place in his second NHL game. He skated on the first line with Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev and played on the top power play unit. Bowman finished the night with 16:07 TOI, four shots… and his first career goal. After Philip Broberg’s late tally, Bowman’s goal stood as the game-winner.

3. Don’t let this get lost in the excitement of a first-career goal: the Golden Knights scored on the power play. They started the season red-hot, going 9-for-24 on the man advantage. But it’s only gone downhill since losing Mark Stone. In 11 games without their captain, the Golden Knights have gotten 38 power play opportunities. Bowman’s goal tonight was just the fourth time they’ve converted.

4. For the second game in a row, the Golden Knights have gotten goals from further down in the lineup. Tonight, the third line contributed to two of their four goals. Brett Howden had a particularly strong game, forcing the turnover that led to Brandon Saad’s goal and screening Joel Hofer on Noah Hanifin’s tally.

5. Tell a friend to tell a friend that Brandon Saad scored his first of the season tonight. And boy, did he need that– he hadn’t scored since game 82 of last season. Including eight playoff games, Saad hadn’t scored in 24 games. 

“I feel like I’ve been chomping at the bit there for the past few games, so it was nice to see it go in,” said Saad postgame.

6. He didn’t face too many shots, but give credit to Akira Schmid. He saved 1.11 goals above expected, and made big saves in the first period when it was still a 0-0 hockey game.

7. Take this victory with a grain of salt, because the Blues aren’t very good right now. After tonight’s regulation loss, they’re the 30th team in the league. They allow the most goals against per game, and both of their goaltenders are in the bottom ten in GSAx.