Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner (90) blocks a shot on goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils at T-Mobile Arena Monday, April 18, 2022. New Jersey Devils left wing Andreas Johnsson (11) is at right.
Tuesday, April 19, 2022 | 2 a.m.
The decision to start Robin Lehner in goal on Monday night seemed sensible in theory.
Ultimately, it may have cost the Golden Knights their season.
Lehner gave up two questionable goals in the third period to turn a 1-1 tie into a two-goal lead for the New Jersey Devils, and Vegas went on to lose 3-2 at T-Mobile Arena, putting their playoff chances in great doubt.
“There’s no excuse,” Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault said. “We’ve got to bear down. It’s just the way our season goes.”
With the Golden Knights (41-31-5) entering must-win territory in their final six games, coach Pete DeBoer chose to go with Lehner over Logan Thompson, who had won five of his last six starts.
Lehner was sent home Friday to tend to a health issue regarding a family member, one day after Thompson led the Golden Knights to a 6-1 win in Calgary. The veteran returned to the crease and made 25 saves.
But the two goals he allowed in the third came at horrible times.
Lehner attempted to play a shot from Devils defenseman Kevin Bahl with his glove, with the puck appearing to go well over the net. The puck bounced off his glove and eventually to the stick of Andreas Johnsson, who roofed it over Lehner for the 2-1 lead three minutes in.
Just over four minutes later, New Jersey forward Jesper Boqvist skated around Vegas defenseman Alex Pietrangelo and fired a wrister that beat Lehner five-hole for the two-goal lead. Lehner didn’t see the puck. He looked to his right the whole way and didn’t know the puck beat him until afterward.
“I think this time of year, you’re looking for your guy to be better than the one at the other end,” DeBoer said. “And that wasn’t the case tonight.”
Going with Lehner over Thompson made sense, knowing the potentiality of saving Thompson for the Washington Capitals on Wednesday. With the Golden Knights in need of wins at any cost, going with the hot hand no matter the opponent would’ve been the correct call.
“LT has been consistent in what he’s brought, for me, in a really tough spot,” DeBoer said. “I think he’s the one guy that has been there and given us what he could.”
And while it’s fair to point the blame at Lehner for the third period, the Golden Knights’ offense dried up once again. After scoring six goals in Calgary, Vegas has been held to two goals in two games and have been outscored 5-1 in the third period.
Had it not been for Chandler Stephenson’s goal with the extra attacker with 1:14 to go, it would’ve been the second straight third period without a response.
“I feel like most of the games, we’re in it,” Marchessault said. “We’ve got to build our own luck. We’ve got to have some puck luck at some point. It’s not always about chances, it’s about the quality of our chances.”
For the second straight game, the Golden Knights put plenty of shots on the opposing goalie. New Jersey netminder Andrew Hammond — who entered Monday with a 3.98 goals-against average and an .874 save percentage — made 42 saves on 44 shots.
But just like the result following the Edmonton Oilers' Mike Smith's 39-save shutout of Vegas on Saturday, the Golden Knights didn’t show enough dangerous chances to Hammond. On Monday night, prior to Stephenson’s goal, Vegas had only eight high-danger chances with Hammond saving all of them.
The Golden Knights also generated plenty of offensive zone time. They out-attempted the Devils 91-50 but missed the net 23 times.
“You have to give some credit to both goalies. I think both guys were first stars,” DeBoer said. “But we also have to look in the mirror. This has been a historical problem here, going dry at the wrong times.”
DeBoer said following Monday's morning skate that a loss in the final six games was not going to end their season. That tune has changed with DeBoer saying after the game, “I think we’ve got to win them all.”
The Vancouver Canucks now trail the Golden Knights by one point in the standings, with a game in hand, following their 6-2 win over the Dallas Stars on Monday. That would’ve helped Vegas and pulled it within two of Dallas for the second wild-card spot.
Vancouver will host the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday with a chance to jump Vegas in the standings and be within two points of the Los Angeles Kings for third place in the Pacific Division.
“I don’t think we’re out of this. We need some help,” defenseman Alec Martinez said. “There can’t be any quit in this room.”
Danny Webster can be reached at 702-259-8814 or [email protected]. Follow Danny on Twitter at twitter.com/DannyWebster21.
