Golden Knights Impressive Victors in Quick’s First Shutout With Team

The Vegas Golden Knights (40-20-6, 86 points) put together a strong performance and defeated the Carolina Hurricanes (43-13-8, 94 points) by a score of 4-0 Saturday evening. 

Jonathan Quick made 34 saves for his first shutout as a Golden Knight, and Reilly Smith, Paul Cotter, and Jonathan Marchessault scored even-strength goals. No lineup changes were made for the Golden Knights, who will play tomorrow against the St. Louis Blues.

FIRST PERIOD

• 1-0 VGK GOAL- The Hurricanes gave just enough time and space to Jonathan Marchessault, who scored five-hole entering the zone.

• Teuvo Teravainen forced a turnover and got the puck to Martin Necas, who tried to make a slick move, but Jonathan Quick stopped him.
• The Golden Knight's fourth line put together a collection of strong shifts offensively with an aggressive forecheck.
• On a rebound chance after a Brady Skjei shot, Stefan Noeson put the puck right through the goal crease, and the VGK dodged a bullet.
• Phil Kessel and Chandler Stephenson went to work on a 2 on 1 with Kessel getting the shot, which was stopped.
• Alex Pietrangelo made a solid shot block on Seth Jarvis, who was pressuring hard off the rush with his linemates.
• Jonathan Quick made a big save late on Teuvo Teravainen and then later stopped Sebastian Aho on the doorstep.

SECOND PERIOD

• Alex Pietrangelo made a good defensive play on Seth Jarvis as he used his long reach to swat away the puck.
• Jonathan Quick made two big consecutive saves on Stefan Noeson and Calvin de Haan.
• Brett Howden missed on a wide-open net after a shot from Keegan Kolesar rebounded right to him.
• Paul Cotter picked off Fredrick Andersen's pass and fed Teddy Blueger right in the slot. But Blueger was unable to get a clean shot off as Andersen stumbled to get back to his crease.
• CAR PP- Sebastian Aho was dragged to the ice by Brett Howden, who was called for cross-checking.
• With a good defensive play, Alec Martinez shook off Jesperi Kotkaniemi on a one-on-one play.
• VGK PP- Sebastian Aho tripped up Jack Eichel on his way to the net.
• 2-0 VGK GOAL- Brent Burns couldn't get a hold of a loose puck, and Reilly Smith took it, went in, and scored late in the second.

THIRD PERIOD

• Jonathan Quick made a huge save on Brett Pesce moving left to right. A huge momentum builder for the VGK.
• After a quiet second period, Jonathan Quick was tested often in the third, and he stood tall.
• Given that the last game saw the Tampa Bay Lightning come back from a two-goal deficit, the Golden Knights seemed keen on not repeating that.
• 3-0 VGK GOAL- Paul Cotter capped off a pretty passing sequence as the VGK had a 3 on 1 after the Hurricanes pinched to try and score.

• With five minutes left, Fredrick Andersen was pulled by Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind A'Mour for the extra attacker.
• 4-0 VGK GOAL- Brett Howden sealed things with an empty net goal.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS NOTES

• With another goal, Reilly Smith has three goals in his last six games and four points in four straight games.
• Paul Cotter scored his first goal in nine games, and Brett Howden his first in nine as well.
• For the sixth time in his career and fifth with the Golden Knights, Jonathan Marchessault has scored 20 goals in a season.
• The Golden Knights now have won 40 games for the fifth time in their six-year history. The only season they did not reach 40 wins came in the COVID-paused season of 2019-20, where they had 39.
• Jonathan Quick made 34 of 34 saves for his first VGK shutout. He has yet to lose a game with his new team.
• The Golden Knights are now 3-1 this season in the first game of a back-to-back.
• Four other relevant games will be played as the Oilers, Kraken, Kings, and Jets play in today's 15-game NHL Saturday.

VHN's Player of the Game: Alex Pietrangelo

Petro had a great game defensively and then a nice assist on Cotter's goal to seal things in the third period.

Up Next: The Golden Knights play the St. Louis Blues tomorrow at 4:00 in Missouri.