Blog: Canucks upset Golden Knights with shootout victory

By Case Keefer (contact)

Published Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018 | 4 p.m.

Updated Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018 | 9:50 p.m.

The Golden Knights’ only solace Wednesday night at T-Mobile Arena was that they still eked a point out in the standings.

Otherwise, there’s a new candidate for poorest Vegas Golden Knights’ performance of the season.

Vegas came into Wednesday night’s game against Vancouver at T-Mobile Arena as nearly a minus-300 (risking $3 to win $1) favorite in sports books. The Golden Knights exited with a 3-2 shootout defeat to snap a three-game win streak.

Goalies Marc-Andre Fleury and Jacob Markstrom stopped the first three shots they each faced in the shootout. But then, Markus Granlund went through Fleury’s legs for a goal on the Canucks’ fourth attempt.

Markstrom blocked William Karlsson’s chance to answer, sending the Canucks rushing onto the ice in celebration.

Expected to finish last in the Pacific Division and playing without two of their top skaters, the Canucks still managed to force the Golden Knights into multiple mistakes.

Vegas didn’t have a shot on goal for more than 10 minutes to open the game. Luckily for the Golden Knights, the Canucks didn’t do much more as Marc-Andre Fleury stopped their first 11 shots.

Then Bo Horvat got loose. The first-line center scored a pair of goals in barely more than a minute, at 4:22 and 5:26 of the second period, to give Vancouver a 2-1 advantage.

The Golden Knights scored the night’s first goal when Max Pacioretty banged a puck past Jacob Markstrom at 1:18 of the second period. They were able to tie the game with two-and-a-half minute remaining in the frame when their red-hot fourth line came through on a wrister from Ryan Reaves set up by William Carrier.

Markstrom won the goalie’s duel from there with 33 saves to Marc-Andre Fleury’s 24 saves.

The Golden Knights fall to 4-4-1 on the year, and are back in action Friday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Lightning at T-Mobile Arena.

Check back to lasvegassun.com for more coverage later.

Golden Knights, Canucks tied at 2-2 after two periods

The goalies ruled the first period. The forwards took over in the second.

Despite roughly the same number of shots on goal — Vancouver went from eight in the first period to seven in the second and Vegas went from nine to eight — a much higher percentage found the back of the net. Especially from Vancouver’s Bo Horvat.

The first-line center scored twice in just more than a minute span, first tipping in a shot from Tim Schaller and later beating Marc-Andre Fleury on a breakaway. The latter put the Canucks up 2-1, but the Golden Knights were able to tie it a couple minutes before the second intermission with their hot fourth line.

William Carrier set up Ryan Reaves with a shot about five feet in front of Vancouver goalie Jacob Markstrom, and he made it count. Max Pacioretty scored the Golden Knights’ first goal on a perfect pass from behind the net courtesy of Erik Haula.

Considering a defensive battle in the first period turned into an offensive explosion in the second period, it will be interesting to see how the third plays out.

Golden Knights, Canucks tied at 0-0 after first period

To use Coach Gerard Gallant’s words from earlier in the season, the Golden Knights looked, “sound asleep,” through the first 10 minutes tonight.

They woke up in a big way over the second half of the first period, but have nothing to show for it in a scoreless game through 20 minutes. Vegas picked up a penalty in the opening 15 seconds when Shea Theodore headed to the box for an elbowing call.

The Golden Knights killed the penalty easily, but that was the only positive part of the first 10 minutes. They didn’t have a single shot on goal, and the Canucks got the first five of the game.

Marc-Andre Fleury stood strong, though, with eight saves including a couple of high-danger opportunities for the Canucks. The Golden Knights had some chances late, including a couple by William Karlsson, but Jacob Markstrom looked as strong as Fleury with nine saves.

Pre-game

Finding a rhythm gives way to maintaining one as the Vegas Golden Knights’ objective at 7 p.m. tonight when they host the Vancouver Canucks.

The Golden Knights arguably played below their expectation level in each of their first six games, despite grinding out a not-quite-disastrous 2-4 record. Their efficiency has changed in the opening two games of a current five-game home stand, as Vegas has beaten both Buffalo and Anaheim with strong efforts that mirrored last year’s Stanley Cup Final team.

“If we can play like we did the other night and be aggressive on our forecheck, turning pucks over, that’s what we have to do,” Coach Gerard Gallant said. “I know Vancouver is a good team and playing well, but it’s like every coach says: It’s what we do.”

It’s the Golden Knights’ second straight game against a Pacific Division opponent. And like the Ducks, the Canucks have played better than anticipated early in the season.

Almost unanimously pegged to finish at the bottom of the Pacific, Vancouver is instead 5-4, sitting two points ahead of Vegas (4-4) in the standings.

“They’re having a chance to win every game,” Gallant said.

Those chances might be tougher to come by at T-Mobile Arena considering the injuries Vancouver is trying to overcome. Last year’s first-round pick, 19-year-old Elias Pettersson, was their best player early in the season but he’ll miss his fifth straight game tonight with a concussion.

Another young standout, 21-year-old Brock Boeser, is a game-time decision after he aggravated his groin in a 5-2 loss against Washington on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Golden Knights have reinforcements coming. Alex Tuch, who signed an seven-year contract extension, is expected to play for the first time this season.

The 22-year-old was eighth on the team with 37 points last year in his rookie season and could immediately slot in on the second line and first power play unit.

“He’s a big, strong guy that skates real good and plays well, works hard,” Gallant said. “He adds a lot of speed and he’s a good guy on the power play.”

A player that will not be returning for Vegas is defenseman Deryk Engelland, who was placed on injured reserve presumably to create roster space for Tuch. Engelland will miss his third straight game with a lower-body injury that’s not expected to keep him off the ice much longer.

Engelland is a key member of the Golden Knights, but they’ve somehow managed their two strongest games without him. They’re out to extend that stretch to three against the Canucks.

Keefer’s Prediction: Golden Knights 4, Canucks 2

Season record for predictions: 3-2

Pick to score the Golden Knights’ first goal: William Karlsson

Season record for first goal scored: 1-for-5

TV: AT&T Sports Net (DirecTV 684, Cox 1313, CenturyLink 1760)

Radio: Fox Sports 1340 AM and 98.9 FM

Betting line: Golden Knights minus-260, Canucks plus-220; over/under: 5.5 (minus-115, minus-105)

Golden Knights (4-4-0) (2-1-0 home)

Coach: Gerard Gallant (second season)

Goals leader: Jonathan Marchessault (5)

Assists leader: William Karlsson (6)

Expected goalie: Marc-Andre Fleury (2.45 gaa, .901 save percentage)

Vancouver Canucks (5-4-0) (3-3-0 road)

Coach: Travis Green (first season)

Goals leader: Elias Pettersson, Bo Horvat (5)

Assists leader: Alexander Edler (5)

Expected goalie: Jacob Markstrom (3.23 gaa, .903 save percentage)

Golden Knights expected game day roster

Forwards (12): Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, William Carrier, Cody Eakin, Erik Haula, Tomas Hyka, William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault, Tomas Nosek, Max Pacioretty, Ryan Reaves, Reilly Smith, Alex Tuch

Defensemen (6): Nick Holden, Brad Hunt, Brayden McNabb, John Merrill, Colin Miller, Shea TheodoreGoalies (2): Marc-Andre Fleury and Malcolm Subban

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