Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

golden knights:

Tomas Nosek rolling since COVID-19 scare, scores game-winning goal vs. Kings

Vegas Golden Knights vs LA Kings at T-Mobile Arena

Christopher DeVargas

The Vegas Golden Knights celebrate after scoring against the LA Kings in the second period of their game at T-Mobile Arena, Monday, March 29, 2021.

Golden Knights Defeat LA Kings 4-1

Kings defenseman Sean Walker (26) and Golden Knights right wing Keegan Kolesar (55) maneuver towards the puck in the third period of their game at T-Mobile Arena, Monday, March 29, 2021. The Golden Knights beat the Kings 4-1. Launch slideshow »

It’s been an eventful year off the ice for Golden Knights center Tomas Nosek.

He left the Feb. 9 game against the Ducks after that morning’s test for COVID-19 came back positive. He quarantined at home with his pregnant wife, who gave birth to their second child a week later. He didn’t return to action for Vegas until March 1.

Considering what he’s gone through, he’d deserve a little slack if his head wasn’t all the way in the game. Instead, he’s shaken off his bout with the virus to play some of the best hockey of his career over the past few weeks, including the game-winning goal in Monday’s 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena.

“COVID isn’t exactly what I wanted, but my son was born so that was a good thing, one of the greatest things in my life, so I was happy I was able to be there,” Nosek said. “Right now it seems our line is clicking, so hopefully we keep going like that. It’s always good when all four lines can play and coach can trust us on the ice.”

Nosek’s goal gave him seven points in his last seven games dating back to a two-assist game on March 17 against the Sharks. He has 10 points this year, and all but one have come since his return to the team.

He scored on opening night for the Golden Knights, then went 14 games without a point. His tally on Monday was his first game-winning goal of the season and third in the regular season with Vegas. He also had a rather famous game-winning goal back in the 2018 postseason.

“He came into camp, I thought had an exceptional camp, then got COVID and had the baby and the family ended up getting COVID, so he had a three-week ordeal there where he really lost some of the momentum he built up,” Vegas coach Pete DeBoer said. “It took him a little while to get it back again, but he looks like he’s back now where he was during camp.”

Nosek’s whole line is rolling right now. That 14-game scoreless drought earlier in the year coincided with tough stretched from usual linemates William Carrier and Ryan Reaves, who are both clicking with Nosek. Carrier for instance scored in the Golden Knights’ last game, and also battled the puck out of the corner Monday to set up Nosek’s goal.

Nosek, Carrier and Reaves spent 7:40 on the ice together Monday and in that time Vegas generated nine shot attempts and 77.5% of the expected goals, according to advanced stats site Natural Stat Trick. Both those totals were second among Vegas’ forward lines.

“The first 15 or 20 games we didn’t produce much, so right now we get some bounces in and it feels good to help the team win a game,” Nosek said.

Nosek has perpetually had to earn his spot on the Golden Knights. He’s played all four seasons on an expiring contract, getting a new one-year deal every offseason since he was selected in the expansion draft. The latest was a one-year, $1.25 million deal he signed in October, the most money he’s made in his career.

He’s played up to that contract with a career-best season. He recorded 15 points in his first year with Vegas, then 17, then 15 again last year, all in 67 games or more. He’s already at 10 this year in 25 games, a 33-point pace over 82 games.

He doesn’t garner many headlines because of the role he plays on the team — a defensive-first bottom-six forward. The spotlight often goes to scorers like Jonathan Marchessault, who sat to his left in the postgame press conference, or leadership players like Reilly Smith and Alec Martinez, who followed Nosek and Marchessault at the podium.

Monday night though was a night for Nosek, who has been one of the Golden Knights’ best players over the last two weeks.

“It’s the best feeling to see that everybody’s going in big games and big wins,” Marchessault said. “It’s definitely a positive game for our group and we cannot take that team lightly the next game.”