7 Observations: Golden Knights Stumble in Final Preseason Road Game

The Vegas Golden Knights entered Tuesday’s preseason contest against the Colorado Avalanche on a two-game winning streak. They once again allowed the first goal, but took the lead in the second period. However, the Golden Knights crumbled in the third, allowing two quick goals and ultimately falling to the Avalanche 4-2.

Neither the Golden Knights nor the Avalanche played many NHL regulars on Tuesday, and it showed during the first period. The Golden Knights couldn’t convert on any of their three power play opportunities; the Avalanche had just one but couldn’t convert.

The Avalanche broke the ice at 10:43 in the first period. Dylan Coghlan pinched, springing Ross Colton and Jack Drury on a 2-on-1 against Christoffer Sedoff. Sedoff couldn’t take away the pass, and Colton set Drury up for a one-timer that beat Carl Lindbom high-glove.

The Golden Knights tied the game 56 seconds into the second period. Alexander Holtz got a piece of Zakhar Bardakov’s clearing attempt. The puck bounced to Dylan Coghlan, who maneuvered around Tristen Nielsen and fired a shot on net. Trent Miner kicked it aside, and Tanner Laczynski potted the rebound.

The Golden Knights scored the go-ahead goal at 11:55 in the second period. Joe Fleming entered the zone, dangled around Sam Malinski, scored a highlight-reel goal, and celebrated accordingly.

The Golden Knights came out flat to start the third period, and the Avalanche made them pay. Keaton Middleton blasted a shot from the point; Carl Lindbom couldn’t handle it and lunged forward. Danil Gushchin beat Lindbom to the puck, and Jason Polin swept it into the empty net.

Polin’s goal gave the Avalanche life, and the Golden Knights never managed to match their energy. In the third period, the Avalanche outshot the Golden Knights 10-5 and generated six scoring chances against the Golden Knights’ three.

The Avalanche continued to pressure and scored the go-ahead goal 3:53 after Polin’s equalizer. Gavin Brindley beat Jaycob Megna to a loose puck, crashing the net and pressuring Carl Lindbom in the process. Lindbom played the puck right to Jack Drury; Drury pulled up and backhanded a pass to Ross Colton, all alone in the slot. Lindbom couldn’t reset in time, and Colton deposited the puck into the yawning cage.

Try as they might, the Golden Knights failed to generate any kind of offense over the final 14 minutes of regulation. They pulled Lindbom for the extra attacker, and Joel Kiviranta hit the empty net less than a second before the final horn.

Three stars of the game: Ross Colton, Jack Drury, Joe Fleming

7 Golden Knights Observations

1. The Golden Knights simply have the innate ability to kill a penalty– they’re 11/12 this preseason. I’m sure that has a little to do with the other teams’ personnel and the lack of special teams practice during training camp. But I also think it’s a testament to the Golden Knights’ defensive system.

2. I don’t know if Joe Fleming can do what he does at the NHL level, but my god, he’s fun to watch. He threw nine hits tonight and got in opponents’ faces after every whistle. He’s constantly looking for an excuse to fight. And hey, he scores highlight reel goals, too!

3. It’s just the preseason, but Colton Sissons looks like he’s going to thrive in Vegas. He won six of seven face-offs in the first period. That percentage came back down to earth– probably because Jack Drury, whom Sissons went 2-7 against, is a leftie.

4. Carl Lindbom is very impressive. He’s also very aggressive playing the puck— maybe a bit too aggressive, if tonight’s third period is anything to go by. The Avalanche scored two goals in 3:53 in the third, both of which Lindbom was caughtoutside of the crease. 

5. The Golden Knights played shorthanded for the majority of tonight’s game. Jakub Demek left early in the first period and did not return.

6. I’m very interested to see how Kaedan Korczak plays in the regular season, because he’s certainly looked every bit the part of an every-game player during the preseason.

7. There will be only four preseason games next year. I can’t imagine that anyone will be heartbroken. It will, however, put younger players at a disadvantage– but that’ll be a problem for next season.