Vegas Golden Knights center Oscar Lindberg (24) looks to run down a puck versus Colorado Avalanche players during their game at the T-Mobile Arena on Friday, Oct. 27, 2017.
Friday, Oct. 27, 2017 | 8 p.m.
When Oscar Lindberg was selected by the Golden Knights from the New York Rangers in the expansion draft, he had only scored 21 goals in 133 career NHL games. Like many of the players made available to Vegas, Lindberg was known as a gritty, hardworking player who played good positional hockey but was unspectacular on offense.
When he danced through the entire Avalanche defense before skillfully floating the puck over the goalie’s glove hand for a goal, it was unexpected, but not as unexpected as the 7-0 beatdown the Golden Knights handed Colorado Friday afternoon.
The play, which was the single most impressive goal of the Golden Knights' season to this point, was a microcosm of the first nine games in franchise history.
“Most of these guys didn’t have a whole lot of ice time with their teams last season and they’re getting the opportunity to step up and they’re taking full advantage of it,” coach Gerard Gallant said. “It was a great goal, but he worked hard and competed hard for it.”
The Golden Knights had plenty of highlight plays in their fifth straight win, but let’s take a closer look at Lindberg’s goal that opened the floodgates.
The play started in classic Lindberg fashion, with hustle and tenacity. The puck was poked loose in the neutral zone, then Lindberg beat two Avalanche players to the puck only to have it slashed off his stick.
Still, he stuck with the play and corralled the puck again.
“First of all that was amazing,” said defenseman Luca Sbisa, who was trailing on the play. “I saw him and it looked like he turned it over, but he kept going and sticking with it and that’s been our mindset throughout these first nine games. Just keep sticking with it and eventually it will pay off and you see good results.”
The play was also very close to being called offside. So close that Colorado coach Jared Bednar challenged the play, but it was upheld after a video review. That multiplied the impact of the goal because it not only gave Vegas a 2-0 lead, but also led to a delay of game penalty (now enforced for failed challenges in the NHL) and a power play for the Golden Knights.
“It was really close and it’s hard to tell,” Gallant said. “I was looking down at the camera and it’s a tough call. From what I saw the Colorado player pushed the puck into the zone so that’s why it wasn’t offside but they’re so close.”
After regaining possession, Lindberg still had to stickhandle his way through two defenders before he could take the shot.
“I pretty much lost it but was able to lift the stick and get the puck back, and then I just tried to get a quick move into the middle and a quick shot,” Lindberg said.
After Lindberg was done toying with the Avalanche defenders, he lifted the puck over goaltender Semyon Varlamov’s glove and into the twine.
“It all happened so fast,” Lindberg said. “I saw I had two guys on me or behind me so I just tried to get a quick shot off.”
The goal was Lindberg’s fourth of the season, which puts him second on the Golden Knights behind only James Neal (7).
“We’ve seen it from him in practice,” Sbisa said. “In practice he’s (deked) me once or twice so we know what he’s capable of. Other people might not but I’m sure they know by now.”
Lindberg’s hot start is sure to catch the attention of opposing teams, and the same can be said for the entire Golden Knights team after the 7-0 win to move to 8-1 on the season.
