Blog: Golden Knights unable to find groove, fall in Game 1 to Sharks

The Golden Knights lost one Game 1 last season on their way to the Stanley Cup Final. They fell behind in the series 1-0 in the Western Conference Finals, then won the next four games to take the series in five games.

They may not need to win four in a row, but the Golden Knights will be playing from behind in their next game, failing to generate much offense Wednesday in a 5-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks in Game 1 of the first round.

The Sharks controlled the special-teams battle, scoring at 5-on-4, 4-on-4 and 3-on-3, and also adding the game's only goal while both squads were at even strength.

Mark Stone had both goals for the Golden Knights, each coming on the power play. The second goal came at 15:26 of the third period to give the Golden Knights some brief hope, but San Jose sealed its win with Tomas Hertl's empty-net goal at 18:11.

Max Pacioretty assisted on both goals, and Paul Stastny and Shea Theodore picked up an assist apiece.

Game 2 is Friday at 7:30 p.m. at SAP Center. The Golden Knights return home for Game 3 on Sunday.

Sharks add on in second

The second period was what people imagine when they think of playoff hockey. And a wild stretch in the middle of the period led to a pair of Sharks goals one Vegas score, then the Sharks added one more late to grab a 4-1 edge after two periods.

It started five minutes in, when a scrum in front of the net sent Jonathan Marchessault to the box for unsportsmanlike conduct and Brenden Dillon for roughing. It set up 4-on-4, but Deryk Engelland took a hooking call 46 seconds into the penalty, giving San Jose a 4-on-3 power play for 1:14. But then Joe Pavelski took a tripping call during that, setting up the rare regulation 3-on-3.

After all that, 3-on-3 is when the Sharks scored. Brent Burns had the assist on the first San Jose goal, but walked in for the second and sniped one by the defending Nate Schmidt and over Marc-Andre Fleury's shoulder to make it 2-0 at 6:59 of the second.

While people were still in the box for all that mess, the Sharks added another. Joe Thornton posted up behind the Vegas net and found a streaking Marc-Edouard Vlasic from the blue line. Vlasic took the pass and whipped it by Fleury to give the Sharks a 3-0 lead at 7:44.

Before all the penalties could expire, the Golden Knights cashed in on the final call of the wild rush. Mark Stone connected on a much-needed goal for Vegas, taking a Max Pacioretty pass deflected by Paul Stastny and depositing it into the net from the right of the crease while on the power play at 8:32 to make it 3-1 Sharks.

William Carrier took a penalty 23 seconds after Stone's goal, but that San Jose power play passed without any fireworks.

A period like this couldn't end without one last hurrah. With 17 seconds left, Evander Kane floated right in front of Fleury, then perfectly redirected an Erik Karlsson low point shot up and into the Vegas net for a 4-1 San Jose lead.

Vegas managed 10 shots on goal through two periods, and allowed 22.

Sharks score in first, but lose Pavelski, Meier

The Golden Knights believe they can win the series against the San Jose Sharks at 5-on-5. Special teams were the difference in the first period, and the Sharks scored on the power play to take a 1-0 lead after one period at SAP Center.

The San Jose crowd started early with the "ref you suck" chants and got their wish at 13:35 of the first when Pierre-Edouard Bellemare hit the box for tripping. The Sharks capitalized at 14:42, when Joe Pavelski deflected a Brent Burns shot off his face and into the net for the 1-0 lead.

Pavelski did not return to the ice, and was joined in the dressing room by Timo Meier late in the period. Meier went in for a hit on Jon Merrill behind the Vegas net, and appeared to miss and slam hard into the boards.

The Sharks fed off the home crowd early, controlling possession in the first few minutes. Vegas didn't get a shot on net until 5:03 into the game, but San Jose only had to shots to that point.

The action picked up after that, Near the midpoint of the frame, William Karlsson sprung Reilly Smith loose from the defensive zone for a partial breakaway, but Smith couldn't get around Brent Burns. Smith got a shot on goal, but crashed into goalie Martin Jones to negate any rebound opportunity.

The Sharks led in shots on goal in the period, 8-5.

Pre-game

It's time.

The Golden Knights have known for weeks they would open the playoffs against the San Jose Sharks. They limped through the end of the regular season, and the new season begins at 7:30 p.m. today at SAP Center, when the next chapter of the Golden Knights-Sharks rivalry begins.

"It's been a long time coming, and we've waited for this day, and it makes these kind of games exciting," Vegas defenseman Nate Schmidt said. "There's going to be a lot of emotions in the game and how you harness them, play off of them, could be a big factor in tonight's game."

The Golden Knights won last year's second round in six games and have faced the Sharks more than any other team in its short history. The matchup is not up there with the league's best rivalries, but a long, contentious series could put it right in the upper echelon.

"It truly is a rival, but you can't get caught up in that," Golden Knights forward Max Pacioretty said. "If a different type of game presents itself, we can't get caught up in that rival mode where we have to be rough and tough. I think every game paints a different picture."

Vegas won once in its last eight games, but players insist that's not a big deal. The Golden Knights didn't have a healthy lineup in any of those games and for most had its seeding locked up. They conceded that made the last part of the season tough to play, with nothing to play for, and that they're ready for the playoffs.

Just as Vegas is getting healthy, so too is San Jose. The Sharks only received 53 games from Erik Karlsson, and Joe Pavelski was banged up at the end of the year. Timo Meier missed morning skate today but all are expected to play tonight.

Then of course there is Brent Burns. The Sharks' star defenseman led the team in assists (67) and points (83) and figures to be a Norris finalist when all the votes are tallied. He quarterbacks a deadly power play, and stopping Burns will be one of the keys to the Golden Knights' success.

"Burns is one of the top players in the league, obviously, and every team in the league has problems with him," Vegas coach Gerard Gallant said. "He's a talented player, skilled player and hard-working player. We just can't worry about Burns, we have to worry about a lot of their good players, and it's the same for them.

"It's two good teams," Gallant said. "I think it's pretty evenly matched, and whoever executes best and plays disciplined hockey is probably going to win the series."

Western Conference first round

Series: Tied 0-0

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

Radio: Fox Sports 1340 AM and 98.9 FM

Betting line: Golden Knights plus-115, Sharks minus-125; over/under: 6 (minus-115, plus-105)

Golden Knights (0-0) (0-0 road), Pacific Division No. 3 seed

Coach: Gerard Gallant (second season)

Points leader: Mark Stone (73)

Goals leader: Mark Stone (33)

Assists leader: Mark Stone (40)

Expected goalie: Marc-Andre Fleury (2.51 gaa, .913 save percentage)

Sharks (0-0) (0-0 home), Pacific Division No. 2 seed

Coach: Peter DeBoer (fourth season)

Points leader: Brent Burns (83)

Goals leaders: Joe Pavelski (38)

Assists leader: Brent Burns (67)

Expected goalie: Martin Jones (2.94 gaa, .896 save percentage)

Golden Knights expected lineup

Forwards

Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson, Reilly Smith, Max Pacioretty, Paul Stastny, Mark Stone, Tomas Nosek, Cody Eakin, Alex Tuch, William Carrier, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Ryan Reaves

Defensemen

Brayden McNabb, Nate Schmidt, Shea Theodore, Deryk Engelland, Jon Merrill, Nick Holden

Goalies

Marc-Andre Fleury, Malcolm Subban