Blog: Golden Knights extend hot start to the season by beating the Bruins

By Case Keefer (contact)

Published Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017 | 1:17 p.m.

Updated Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017 | 6:43 p.m.

The Golden Knights’ early-season magic hasn’t ended yet.

Those who thought the Golden Knights’ loss to the Red Wings on Friday spelled the end of their run were proven wrong Sunday night at T-Mobile Arena. Vegas put together arguably its most complete performance of the year to beat the Boston Bruins 3-1 in front of an attendance of 17,562 fans.

And the Golden Knights did it undermanned. Vegas placed goalie Marc Andre-Fleury, center Jonathan Marchessault and left wing Erik Haula on injured reserve before the game, but their replacements more than made up for the absences.

Fleury’s backup, Malcolm Subban, might have made the Bruins, the team that drafted him in the first round five years ago, reconsider their decision to waive him before the season began. In his first career win, Subban managed 21 saves and looked more comfortable in net as the game progressed.

Offensively, American Hockey League call-ups Alex Tuch and Vadim Shipachyov each scored their first career NHL goals in the second period. Tuch put a shot over the shoulder of Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask before Shipachyov banged through a rebound.

Tuch also had an assist on Shipachyov’s goal. The Golden Knights outshot the Bruins 26-21, and never lost intensity.

The Bruins scored their only goal with 30 seconds remaining on a deflection, but the Golden Knights answered back 17 seconds later with an empty-net goal from Oscar Lindberg.

Even in their memorable 5-2 home-debut win over the Coyotes on Tuesday, coach Gerrard Gallant said he thought the team gassed in the third period. Gallant is unlikely to have any such concerns after tonight’s game, the Golden Knights’ first against a team that made the playoff last season.

Check back to the Sun later for full coverage of the Golden Knights’ win over the Bruins, which improved the team to 4-1 in their inaugural season.

Golden Knights 2, Bruins 0 at end of second period

The Golden Knights increased their aggressiveness in the second period, and found the results to show for it.

Vegas got 14 shots on goal in the period, and finally slipped a pair past Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask in the final six minutes. The Golden Knights’ two call-ups, Vadim Shipachyov and Alex Tuch, were the two to find the back of the net.

First, Tuch poached the puck away from Brandon Charlo at center ice and converted a breakaway with a wrist shot over the Rask. Just more than three minutes later, on another Golden Knights’ attack, Shipachyov knocked through a rebound.

Debuting goalie Malcolm Subban continued on his success from the first period, stopping 10 shots.

Golden Knights 0, Bruins 0 at end of first period

Those hoping for an offensive game must have been disappointed by the first period.

Not only did neither the Golden Knights nor the Bruins score, but they also barely combined to get off any shots. Vegas didn’t have a shot on goal for more than 13 minutes before defenseman Brad Hunt missed his first of two slap shots in the period.

The Golden Knights ended up with four shots on goal to the Bruins’ five. Pressed into action, back-up goalie Malcolm Subban had a strong opening 20 minutes that included stopping a tough shot from Bruins’ leader Brad Marchand.

Pre-game

Fans looking for physicality likely came away more pleased with the first frame. The Golden Knights had nine hits, including a couple that made the crowd gasp from defenseman Luca Sbisa.

Injuries are an inescapable part of any sport, especially one as physically taxing and with a schedule as demanding as hockey.

Vegas Golden Knights’ fans are learning about the rigors of the NHL early in the team’s inaugural season. The Golden Knights, which had kept their injury report relatively clean throughout a 3-1 start, will be playing without three key players when they take on the Boston Bruins at 4 p.m. tonight at T-Mobile Arena.

Vegas added goalie Marc Andre-Fleury, center Jonathan Marchessault and left wing Erik Haula to injured reserve following Friday’s 6-3 loss to the Red Wings. Marchessault, who was expected to be one of the team’s best offensive players, scored his first goal of the season against the Red Wings and Haula has two points on the year, but Fleury’s loss stings the most.

Fleury had been impenetrable in net through three-and-a-half games before he took a knee to the head in the second period against the Red Wings. He never looked the same after that, giving up four goals in the third period before it was later confirmed that he suffered a concussion.

Malcolm Subban, who was recently acquired via trade with the Bruins, will be forced into action. He says he’s ready, but has struggled in only two career NHL appearances

Both Marchessault and Haula are both listed as having sustained lower-body injuries.

Looking up for the Golden Knights is the fact that the Bruins are just as bruised and in a tough situational spot. Most notably on the injury front, Bruins’ star Patrice Bergeron is yet to debut this season.

Boston is also playing on back-to-back nights after prevailing 6-2 last night against Arizona.

The NHL season is all about adjusting to adverse conditions. The Golden Knights’ ability in that regard will be tested sooner than expected.

Puck drops: 4:05 p.m.

Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas

Radio: Fox Sports 1340 AM and 98.9 FM

TV: AT&T SportsNet (DirecTV 684, Cox 1313, CenturyLink Prism 1760, Dish Network 5414)

Betting line: Bruins minus-150, over/under 5.5 minus-120 over

Golden Knights (3-1-0) (1-1-0 home)

Coach: Gerard Gallant

Goal leader: James Neal (5)

Assist leader: Brendan Leipsic, David Perron and Luca Sbisa (3)

Expected goalie: Malcolm Subban (0-0-0, 5.81 goals against average career)

Boston Bruins (2-2-0) (1-1-0 away)

Coach: Bruce Cassidy

Goal leader: Brad Marchand (3)

Assist leader: David Krjeci (4)

Expected goalie: Tuukka Rask (1-2, 3.76 goals against average)

Golden Knights game day roster

Forwards (12): Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, William Carrier, Cody Eakin, William Karlsson, Brendan Leipsic, Oscar Lindberg, James Neal, Tomas Nosek, David Perron, Vadim Shipachyov, Reilly Smith and Alex Tuch.

Defensemen (6): Deryk Engelland, Jason Garrison, Brayden McNabb, Colin Miller, Luca Sbisa and Nate Schmidt.

Goalies (2): Malcolm Subban and Maxime Lagace.

Prediction : Bruins 4, Golden Knights 2

Season prediction record: 2-2

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.