Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Live coverage: Golden Knights blanked by Islanders as losing streak hits four

VGK Golden Knights Islanders

Vegas Golden Knights goalie Robin Lehner (90) makes a save against New York Islanders left wing Zach Parise in the first period during an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Updated Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021 | 8:34 p.m.

The Golden Knights have matched the longest regulation losing streak in their history.

Vegas fell to the New York Islanders 2-0 Sunday night, the team's fourth-straight loss after winning the season opener. New York scored in the first, then thrust in the dagger in the third period to secure the victory at T-Mobile Arena.

The four-straight losses mark the longest streak since Pete DeBoer took over as coach in January of 2020. The team has two five-game losing streaks on its ledger, but managed at least an overtime point in each instance.

The Islanders struck on their first look of the game in the offensive zone, countering what was a strong early-game push from Vegas. They had a clear game plan all game to shoot low and play for rebounds, leading to the goal: Jean-Gabriel Pageau's initial shot was cleaned up and put home by Josh Bailey.

The third-period goal had a little more flair to it. Mathew Barzal showed the kind of flash he's known for, taking the puck down the right wing and sniping it top-shelf over goalie Robin Lehner at 7:33 of the third.

The power play continued to struggle, failing to score in both its chances Sunday night. The Golden Knights have not scored on any of their 11 power plays this season, the only team in the league without a a power-play goal.

Vegas led in shots on goal 42-26 for the game, and will look to avoid matching a franchise-record pointless streak Tuesday in Colorado against the Avalanche.

Golden Knights push hard in second period, but head to third trailing Islanders

The Golden Knights didn't get a goal in the second period, but started to assert some control over the flow of the game. They trail 1-0 to the New York Islanders after two periods at T-Mobile Arena, and will look to avoid a fourth-straight loss with an equalizer in the third.

The first half of the second period didn't have the same zip the first period did. Neither team developed a strong feel for the puck, though the Golden Knights had the best look of the frame when Evgenii Dadonov set up a gorgeous chance for Keegan Kolesar in front of the Islanders net, but Ilya Sorokin dove across the crease to make the save.

Just past the halfway point of the period, the Golden Knights went to their second power play of the game, an area of their offense that is struggling in a big way. They went without a goal, dropping to 0-for-11 with the man advantage this season, and remain the only team in the league without a power-play goal.

The Golden Knights spent virtually the whole period with the puck on their stuck, but couldn't muster a goal. They led 14-4 in shots on goal in the second as the Islanders may have started to fade nearing the end of a long week on the road. Vegas will look to take advantage of that in the third.

Golden Knights in early hole to Islanders

The Golden Knights are in a slump right now, and the first period of Sunday's game is exactly what they didn't need.

Vegas was the better team for large stretches of the opening 20 minutes, but ended up on the wrong end of a 1-0 score with the New York Islanders heading to the first intermission at T-Mobile Arena.

The Golden Knights were more rested than New York and it showed in the first two minutes of the game. They spent almost all of it in the offensive zone, firing shot attempts toward the Islanders. But the first time they had to defend, the Islanders, who played last night in Arizona, pounced to grab an early lead.

New York entered the zone and Jean-Gabriel Pageau sent a harmless shot at the Vegas net. Robin Lehner stopped it, but the rebound sat right outside the crease, and Josh Bailey was there to bury it at 2:16. It was the first time this season the Golden Knights failed to score first.

Vegas maintained possession the rest of the period, but was unable to do much with it. The Islanders blocked nine shots, keeping the Golden Knights from getting into any sort of rhythm in the offensive zone. On the other side of the ice, New York shot often for the bottom of the net and crashing the crease looking for rebounds. That's a big reason why despite trailing in shot attempts 28-11, the Islanders led in high-danger chances 11-5, according to Natural Stat Trick.

In shots on goal, Vegas led 12-11.

Golden Knights look to get back on track vs. Islanders

The Vegas Golden Knights are preparing for a physical game tonight against the New York Islanders, who are considered one of the best defensive teams in the NHL.

Puck drops at 7 p.m. at T-Mobile Arena.

“If you think you’re going to show up tonight and have room to rush and move around and get to the net you’re going to be sorely mistaken and you’re not going to have much success,” Vegas coach Pete DeBoer said. “I think you’ve got to prepare yourself to have a man’s game-type mentality.”

The Islanders have had an unfortunate scheduling quirk to start the season, which may work to the Golden Knights’ advantage. As they wait for the opening of their new arena, the Islanders are in the midst of a 13-game road trip to start the year.

They’ve started with two wins in their first five games, but both wins came against teams without victories this season. Tonight will be their third game in four nights after playing last night in Arizona.

That long on the road takes a toll on a team. Over the past three seasons they’ve allowed fewer goals than any other team, but are allowing three goals per game so far this year, including 14 goals in three games against teams that aren’t Chicago or Arizona.

The Islanders have not announced a starting goalie, but Ilya Sorokin has started every game this season, including last night. That could lead New York to opt for its backup, 35-year-old Cory Schneider, who did not play in the NHL last season but is second on the depth chart with Semyon Varlamov on injured reserve.

Once a star goalie with New Jersey, Schneider played just two games in the AHL last season, and has spent parts of the last three seasons in the minor leagues.

The Golden Knights are looking to avoid a four-game regulation losing streak, which they’ve never had under DeBoer. In fact the last time Vegas dropped four regulation games in a row, it fired Gerard Gallant to hire DeBoer. The franchise has never lost five in a row in regulation.

“Obviously you don’t want to be on a losing streak or anything like that. I think it’s still early and we have been getting better every game,” forward Chandler Stephenson said. “We’ve just got to build from last game and be even better and just try to close one of these out.”

The Golden Knights are hopeful an NHL debut — their fourth already this year — will infuse some positive energy to the lineup. Defenseman Daniil Miromanov lit up the preseason, shooting his way up Vegas’ list of options on the blue line. With injuries to Alec Martinez (who is listed as day-to-day) and Zach Whitecloud (who is week-to-week), Miromanov is expected to play his first game after just eight career AHL games.

Miromanov’s story is an interesting one.

A converted winger, he played amateur hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, then returned to the KHL in his native Russia for the last two seasons. He signed an AHL contract with the Silver Knights last year, where the 24-year-old did not score last season, but had two goals and four points in Henderson’s opening weekend. He said he was never actively looking to return to North America, but leapt at the opportunity.

“It’s always been my dream, it’s always been my goal,” Miromanov said. “I just used it as a step to come here, to play in the KHL to improve my game to that level to come here.”

DeBoer announced Robin Lehner as tonight’s starter in net, his fifth start of the year. He spent the 2018-19 seasons with the Islanders, where he won the Jennings and Masterson Trophies, and was a Vezina finalist. This is his second game against New York since he left, picking up a victory while with the Blackhawks two seasons ago.

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

Radio: Fox Sports 1340 AM and 98.9 FM

Betting line: Golden Knights minus-130, Islanders plus-110; over/under: 5.5 (minus-105, minus-115)

Golden Knights (1-3-0, 2 points; 8th place, Pacific Division)

Coach: Pete DeBoer (third season)

Points leaders: Chandler Stephenson (4)

Goals leaders: Max Pacioretty, Chandler Stephenson (2)

Assists leader: Mark Stone (3)

Expected goalie: Robin Lehner (3.59 GAA, .901 save percentage)

Islanders (2-2-1, 5 points; t-7th place, Metropolitan Division)

Coach: Barry Trotz (fourth season)

Points leader: Five players (3)

Goals leader: Oliver Wahlstrom (3)

Assists leader: Noah Dobson, Kyle Palmieri (3)

Expected goalie: Cory Schneider (0.00 GAA, .000 save percentage)

Golden Knights projected lineup

Forwards

Jonathan Marchessault—William Karlsson—Reilly Smith

Peyton Krebs—Chandler Stephenson—Nicolas Roy

Evgenii Dadonov—Nolan Patrick—Keegan Kolesar

William Carrier—Brett Howden—Mattias Janmark

Defensemen

Nicolas Hague—Alex Pietrangelo

Brayden McNabb—Shea Theodore

Daniil Miromanov—Dylan Coghlan

Goalies

Robin Lehner, Laurent Brossoit

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