Late goal sends Golden Knights to stress-inducing win over Ducks

By Justin Emerson

Published Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021 | 3 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021 | 9:34 p.m.

You could almost hear the sigh of relief across Las Vegas.

The Golden Knights coughed up a three-goal lead in the third period on Tuesday, but a late goal by Zach Whitecloud restored the Vegas lead and carried the team to a 5-4 victory over the Anaheim Ducks at T-Mobile Arena.

Whitecloud crashed the net after a William Carrier shot attempt and picked up the rebound just outside the blue paint and put it home for his second of the season, and the first game-winning goal of his career. 

Vegas only needed the late goal after losing what was a 4-1 lead entering the period.

The Ducks scored three goals in a row in a third to come to life and give the Golden Knights a scare. Troy Terry was first, then Adam Henrique capitalized on a turnover behind the net, then Ryan Getzlaf dunked it home on the power play to even the game 4-4. The goals came in a five-minute span, but came on three consecutive Anaheim shots.

The game looked early on like Vegas was going to coast.

The Golden Knights scored just past the midpoint of the first period, and pretty much rolled from there. Chandler Stephenson started the scoring, followed by Jonathan Marchessault toward the end. 

Alex Tuch gave Vegas a 3-0 lead 2:39 into the second period, his fourth goal of the season to move him into second place on the team. That's when the Ducks changed the scoreboard for the first time, courtesy of Isac Lundestrom. Nicolas Roy answered with his first of the season, giving the Golden Knights a 4-1 lead entering the third.

Vegas outshot the Ducks 31-23 and moved to 3-0 against them this season, and 8-1-1 on the year overall.

The Golden Knight splay the Ducks again at 7 p.m. Thursday at T-Mobile Arena.

Golden Knights score twice more to extend lead over Ducks

The Golden Knights gave up a goal in the second period. The good news is they scored twice.

Vegas added two more goals in second period, and extended their lead over the Ducks to 4-1 after 40 minutes on Tuesday at T-Mobile Arena.

Alex Tuch continued his hot start to the 2021 season at 2:39 of the second, roofing a back-hander over Ryan Miller to make it 3-0. Cody Glass had the assist for his fourth game in a row with a point, and Tuch's goal gave him nine points in 10 games this season.

The Ducks got on the board shortly after Tuch's goal courtesy of Isac Lundestrom, who netted the second of his career at 3:38. It was a pretty shot too, getting space in the slot and sending a laser past Marc-Andre Fleury to spoil the shutout bid.

The second period seemed to fly by, and lots of that was thanks to a nearly six-minute stretch without a whistle. It included Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone missing by inches on an open net, a couple of good looks by the Ducks and a breakaway by William Carrier.

Just like in the first period, the Golden Knights added a late goal to extend their lead. This time it was Nicolas Roy with a rocket of a wrister from the top of the right circle, his first of the season with 3:18 to go until intermission.

Glass picked up his second assist of the game, giving him an even six points in six games this season. Shea Theodore grabbed the secondary assist, showing no ill signs from the hit that forced him to leave the first period.

Vegas led in shots on goal 19-15 after two periods.

Golden Knights jump out to lead over Ducks

It took a bit to get going but once it did the Golden Knights jumped out to a multiple-goal lead over the visiting Anaheim Ducks. Vegas scored twice in the first 20 minutes, and led 2-0 at the first intermission on Tuesday at T-Mobile Arena.

It was a slow-starting game, not like the last two Vegas games that each had a goal in the first minute. Through eight minutes of game action, there were just eight shots on goal combined between the two teams. A Golden Knights power play bumped those numbers a bit with four shots and a couple of great looks, but no scoring.

That came soon after. Chandler Stephenson is on a heater after two goals on Sunday and almost scored earlier in the game. He connected at 10:56, getting loose for a 1-on-1 look with goalie Ryan Miller and scoring five-hole.

Mark Stone picked up the primary assist, the 400th point of his career, and Dylan Coghlan fed stone with a stretch pass, the first point of his career.

The period almost came to a close with the Golden Knights leading 1-0, but with 1:08 left they got another. Reilly Smith's centering attempt from the circle kicked off Jonathan Marchessault's skate and into the net for his third of the season.

The Golden Knights did a good job controlling play throughout the first period, not allowing much aside from an Anaheim power play. Vegas led in shots on goal 10-7.

Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore left the bench to the dressing room after a collision late in the period and did not return.

Live Blog: Fleury on roll heading into battle with Ducks

Marc-Andre Fleury is 36 years old, playing in his 17th NHL season. So far this season, though, he's playing like he has no plans on slowing down.

The Golden Knights goaltender has been one of the most effective backstops in the league in the early part of the season, going undefeated in four starts and allowing just five goals. He is expected to start at 7 p.m. today against the Anaheim Ducks, a game in which Vegas will unveil its red "reverse retro" jerseys.

"When I got here, the word on Marc-Andre was that when he was fresh, he had been lights-out," coach Pete DeBoer said. "The way this has rolled out with those guys being able to play every other game has given us an opportunity to play a fresh Fleury every night. I think his numbers reflect that. He's been great, arguably our best player."

Thanks to a timeshare situation in net with Robin Lehner and a 10-day break due to COVID-19, tonight would be Fleury's fifth appearance in 25 days.

It's important to note that Fleury is not confirmed as the starter. DeBoer instituted a policy this season of not revealing the goaltender before games. Still, Fleury has played every other game, and this would be his turn in rotation. He was also the first goalie off the ice at morning skate, typically an indicator of the starter.

If he plays as expected, he's looking to build off a terrific stretch to start the season.

Among goalies who have played as many games as Fleury, he is second in the NHL, with a .944 save percentage and third with 0.94 goals saved above average per 60 minutes, third-best in the league. He hasn't allowed more than two goals in a game so far and recorded Vegas' only shutout of the season on Jan. 24.

"He's very professional and takes good care of himself," forward William Karlsson said of the secret to Fleury's longevity. "That's one thing I always notice when I see him without a shirt is how shredded he is. I think he takes good care of his body, and that's what makes him able to stay at this level at that age."

In the Ducks, the Golden Knights will see an opponent they started the season with less than a month ago. Anaheim has been hanging around the postseason bubble, tied with Arizona for the last playoff spot.

The Ducks don't have many skaters who pop off the page with gaudy scoring numbers, but they do have some threats up and down the lineup. Max Comtois, in particular, was a thorn in the Golden Knights' side in the first two games of the season, scoring three times and leading Anaheim with five goals.

Then there's John Gibson, one of the top goalies in the league with the ability to steal a victory every night. He has appeared in 11 games already, with a .918 save percentage.

Vegas' lineup is expected to be the same as the past two games, with Nick Holden and Dylan Coghlan on defense and Cody Glass in at center. It's possible that defenseman Alex Pietrangelo will return, having exited league virus protocols, but DeBoer said he's more likely to play on Thursday.

The Golden Knights will wear their red reverse retro jerseys for the first time. They were created as part of a league-wide campaign, and they pay tribute to both the Las Vegas Wranglers and Las Vegas Thunder, hockey teams that predated the Golden Knights in the valley.

"I haven't seen them in real life," forward Nicolas Roy said. "I saw them a couple of weeks ago on Twitter, and they're pretty nice, but I'm looking forward to it for tonight."

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

Radio: Fox Sports 1340 AM and 98.9 FM

Betting line: Golden Knights minus-230, Ducks plus-220; over/under: 5.5 (minus-110, MINUS-110)

Golden Knights (7-1-1, 15 points; t-2nd place, West Division)

Coach: Peter DeBoer (second season)

Points leader: Mark Stone (14)

Goals leader: Max Pacioretty (6)

Assists leader: Mark Stone (11)

Expected goalie:Marc-Andre Fleury (1.25 GAA, .944 save percentage)

Ducks (5-5-3, 13 points; t-4th place, West Division)

Coach: Dallas Eakins (second season)

Points leaders: Max Comtois, Carter Rowney (6)

Goals leader: Max Comtois (5)

Assists leader: Carter Rowney (6)

Expected goalie: John Gibson (2.48 GAA, .918 save percentage)

Golden Knights projected lineup

Forwards

Max Pacioretty—Chandler Stephenson—Mark Stone

Jonathan Marchessault—William Karlsson—Reilly Smith

Nicolas Roy—Cody Glass—Alex Tuch

William Carrier—Tomas Nosek—Ryan Reaves

Defensemen

Alec Martinez—Shea Theodore

Nicolas Hague—Zach Whitecloud

Nick Holden—Dylan Coghlan

Goalies

Marc-Andre Fleury, Robin Lehner