Los Angeles Kings players celebrate a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena Friday, Feb.18, 2022. Vegas Golden Knights defensemen Nicolas Hague (14) and Alex Pietrangelo (7) are at left.
Published Friday, Feb. 18, 2022 | 9:51 p.m.
Updated Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022 | 12:18 a.m.
Vegas coach Pete DeBoer was blunt in assessing his team’s performance on Friday night against the Kings.
Max Pacioretty scored twice and Jack Eichel recorded his first point with the Golden Knights, but they blew a two-goal lead and dropped their third straight game in a 4-3 overtime loss.
“I didn’t love our night,” DeBoer said. “We found a way to scrape a point out, but it wasn’t our finest effort in my eyes.”
It’s not just the three straight losses that have the Golden Knights slightly reeling. Two of the defeats have come against division opponents, tightening the race atop the Pacific Division.
The Calgary Flames, who Vegas lost to 6-0 on Feb. 9, are on an eight-game winning streak with three games in hand on Vegas. The Kings and Edmonton Oilers are tied for third with 57 points and also have games in hand on the Golden Knights.
It’s nowhere near time to panic, but Vegas feels the pressure after losing three of its four games coming out of the All-Star break with 32 games to go.
“I think we’ve got to get used to the fact that we’re in the middle of a race here for positioning to the finish line,” DeBoer said, “and everyone we’re playing has that hunger you’ve got to bring if you’re going to win games.”
The Golden Knights jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead with goals by Pacioretty and Reilly Smith. Pacioretty’s power-play goal ended an 11-game goal drought for him and was Vegas’ first goal in 147:57.
Pacioretty has missed 27 games with a broken foot and wrist. He returned from the latter on Jan. 27 and had only two assists in his first six games since coming back. Pacioretty, who had his fifth multi-goal game of the season, said he didn’t feel confident in his game after jumping back into the lineup.
“It’s been a long time with my injury, rehabbing and coming back,” Pacioretty said. “It’s coming. It’s been a line of guys trying to find their game after some absence.”
DeBoer felt he knew Pacioretty would break out of his slump against the Kings, who he has 12 goals against in his career.
“We need him to score,” he said. “He’s a streaky scorer and he always seems to find a way to score against L.A.”
Adrian Kempe had two goals for the Kings, including the game-winner in overtime. His first goal came on the power play — after Chandler Stephenson was given an unsportsmanlike penalty — and tied the game at 2-2 early in the second.
After trying different forward combinations Wednesday against Colorado, DeBoer put Stephenson back on the top line, but at right wing with Pacioretty and Eichel. The trio started strong in their first two shifts, and accounted for 10 shot attempts and five scoring chances at 5-on-5.
Eichel recorded his first assist with the Golden Knights six minutes into the second period, finding Pacioretty for a one-timer. The puck bounced off the post, off goalie Jonathan Quick’s back and trickled past the goal line.
“Definitely a strong start. Lost some momentum as a group there late in the game,” Pacioretty said of his line. “Would’ve liked to sustain that throughout. I think that was the story of our team tonight, losing that pressure on the puck and making plays at the right time. We have to be better at that.”
After Kings center Phillip Danault tied it 3-3 late in the second, Los Angeles began to wear Vegas down. The Kings held the Golden Knights to just five shots on goal and no high-danger chances in the third period.
For all the good the Golden Knights accomplished in their last two games, the results are far from what they hoped. They’ll get out of town for a quick trip to San Jose on Sunday to face the Sharks, who are not that far out of the playoff picture, either.
It’ll be another desperate team the Golden Knights are facing, perhaps a level that Vegas needs to match.
“The more points we drop, the easier desperation is going to come,” DeBoer said.
Danny Webster can be reached at 702-408-6553 or [email protected]. Follow Danny on Twitter at twitter.com/DannyWebster21
