Blog: Golden Knights flip script, blow out Blackhawks

By Justin Emerson

Published Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019 | 3 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019 | 9:36 p.m.

It's funny how hockey works sometimes. Last time out was one of the Golden Knights' worst losses of the season, a five-goal shutout loss at home. Two days later, they nearly did the opposite.

The Golden Knights scored three goals in the second period and coasted to a 5-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday.

The first period teased a high-scoring game without the puck going in the net. There were chances and there was pace, all that was missing was the goals.

Vegas got those in bunches in the second. Reilly Smith started it in the waning seconds of a power play, then helped William Karlsson finish off a short-handed 2-on-1 at the end of the period. Between those goals Deryk Engelland netted his first of the season, and just his third in the last two seasons.

The third period put the cherry on top for the Golden Knights. Max Pacioretty, who hit the post after beating the goalie between the legs in the second, tapped in a Mark Stone feed to Vegas up 4-0. Then with 7:01 left in the game Ryan Reaves added his third of the season to cap off Vegas' scoring.

Dominik Kubalik scored a power-play goal with 27 seconds remaining for Chicago to ruin Marc-Andre Fleury's shutout bid.

Vegas led in shots on goal 37-29. 

Offense shines as Golden Knights grab lead over Blackhawks

It's not often Golden Knights are treated to a Deryk Engelland goal. They're 5-0-2 all-time when he nets one, and they're well on their way to their sixth win.

Engelland scored in the second period, as did Reilly Smith and William Karlsson as Vegas took a 3-0 lead into the second intermission against the Chicago Blackhawks.

There were four seconds left in Vegas' first power play when the Golden Knights scored. Nate Schmidt sent a point shot on net and Smith was there on the rebound, shoving the puck past a sprawling Crawford at 7:27 to make it 1-0.

At that point the Golden Knights had eight shots on goal to Chicago's zero. The onslaught didn't stop there. Max Pacioretty had a great look off the rush where he beat Crawford five-hole but still hit the post. Vegas had 11 of the period's 13 shots.

And one of them was Engelland's first of the year. Engelland jumped in from the blue line, collected a pass from Tuch and sniped it over Crawford's shoulder. It was the eighth in his Vegas career, his first since March 6 of last season and it came at 11:24.

Then when Alex Tuch took a penalty late in the periods, odds were if another goal happened, it would be Chicago's. Nope. Smith forced a turnover at his own blue line, and he and Karlsson had a short-handed odd-man rush. Smith fed Karlsson, and the Golden Knights led 3-0.

Vegas led in shots on goal 29-20.

Golden Knights, Blackhawks play 1st with speed, but no goals

The Golden Knights and Chicago Blackhawks started off the first period on a break-neck pace, but neither scored a goal as the period ended in a 0-0 tie.

About six minutes, both sides had good looks on wraparound tries. Zack Smith's should have been a goal when Marc-Andre Fleury lost his footing and couldn't get back to the far post, but Smith slid it right into the post and Fleury covered. Then at the other end Alex Tuch had a shot that led to a loose puck in front, but Paul Stastny couldn't corral it and bury it.

Fleury was playing in his first game since he left the team two weeks ago to be with his family. He was tested plenty in the first 20 minutes, batting away 12 shots.

Vegas' best chance chance came with three minutes left in the frame, when first Corey Crawford denied Nate Schmidt on a wrister from the slot, then pounced on Reilly Smith's rebound attempt to deny what looked like a certain goal.

Chicago grabbed a power play shortly after that on a Mark Stone interference call, on which it did not score, but Stone had a breakaway attempt coming out of the box with two seconds left.

The Golden Knights led in shots on goal 13-12.

Valentin Zykov returns to Golden Knights tonight against Blackhawks

There was a belief that his suspension two months ago spelled the end of Valentin Zykov's time as a Golden Knight. He briefly appeared 10 days before his suspension ended, then he was waived and sent to AHL Chicago when he would have been eligible again.

The Golden Knights recalled Zykov on Monday night and he is expected to be in the lineup for the first time since Oct. 15 when Vegas hosts the Chicago Blackhawks at 7 p.m. Zykov spoke with the media this morning, and said he wants to focus on hockey.

"It's great to be back," Zykov said. "It's been awhile."

Zykov trained in Austria after the NHL announced his suspension for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances on Oct. 17. He appeared at practice on Nov. 19, then was waived on Nov. 27. He was assigned to the AHL the next day.

There was a disconnect between Zykov and the team when the suspension news broke, including a team statement that Zykov "knowingly used a banned substance without the consent, recommendation or knowledge of our team," and supported the league's decision. Zykov at the time said he was unaware how he tested positive, and on Tuesday said he wants to put it behind him.

"I don't want to think about it. I just want to move forward. I'm glad to be back, and I just want to play hockey right now," Zykov said. "When I came back, it was fine. Everything was just regular."

Zykov is expected to join the team's fourth line and skate on the left wing alongside center Tomas Nosek and right wing Ryan Reaves. Zykov played in seven games before the suspension and had two assists. The Golden Knights said they are happy to have him back.

"It's like he hasn't missed a day," defenseman Deryk Engelland said. "He's looking good, and we're expecting him to play like we know he can."

The Golden Knights needed Zykov when Cody Glass went down with an injury on Sunday against the Rangers. There was lineup reshuffling and the Golden Knights, instead of calling up center Nicolas Roy, decided to go with Zykov at the wing instead of fellow left winger Brandon Pirri. The move allows Nosek and Chandler Stephenson to remain at center.

"He's a good hockey player. He was playing well for our team when he got suspended, and why not him?" coach Gerard Gallant said. "He served his suspension. He deserves a second chance."

Today's game will also feature the return of Marc-Andre Fleury, who has not played since Nov. 23. He was away from the team after the death of his father and returned to practice Thursday. He will oppose goalie Corey Crawford, who helped the Blackhawks defeat the Golden Knights for the first time in franchise history in their last meeting, a 5-3 win on Nov. 13 at T-Mobile Arena.

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-210, Blackhawks plus-175; over/under: 6.5 (minus-105, minus-115)

Golden Knights (15-12-5, 33 points) (7-6-3 home), fourth place, Pacific Division; second place, Wild Card

Coach: Gerard Gallant (third season)

Points leader: Max Pacioretty (26)

Goals leaders: Reilly Smith (12)

Assists leaders: William Karlsson (17)

Expected goalie: Marc-Andre Fleury (2.54 GAA, .919 save percentage)

Blackhawks (12-12-6, 30 points) (5-5-3 road), seventh place, Central Division; seventh place, Wild Card

Coach: Jeremy Colliton (second season)

Points leaders: Patrick Kane (36)

Goals leaders: Patrick Kane (14)

Assists leaders: Patrick Kane (22)

Expected goalie: Corey Crawford (2.89 GAA, .912 save percentage)

Golden Knights projected lineup

Forwards

Jonathan Marchessault—William Karlsson—Reilly Smith

Max Pacioretty—Chandler Stephenson—Mark Stone

William Carrier—Paul Stastny—Alex Tuch

Valentin Zykov—Tomas Nosek—Ryan Reaves

Defensemen

Brayden McNabb—Nate Schmidt

Nicolas Hague—Shea Theodore

Nick Holden—Deryk Engelland

Goalies

Marc-Andre Fleury, Malcolm Subban