Live coverage: Golden Knights rally to force shootout, but fall to Maple Leafs

By Justin Emerson

Published Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022 | 4 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022 | 9:49 p.m.

Even getting to the shootout was a feat for the Golden Knights on Tuesday night. They trailed by two goals going into the third period, so getting even one point was a minor victory. Unfortunately for them, the Toronto Maple Leafs picked up the major victory.

Toronto's William Nylander scored the only goal of the shootout, and sent Vegas to a 4-3 defeat at T-Mobile Arena. It was the sixth loss in eight all-time meetings against the Maple Leafs, and fourth loss in the last five home games for the Golden Knights.

Overtime and the shootout only happened because the Golden Knights rallied in the third period.

Down a pair of goals, the Golden Knights started the third period off right, scoring just 1:24 into the frame. There was a scrum behind the net for the puck and when it kicked out to center, William Karlsson was there to put a slick move on Jack Campbell to avoid the poke-check and back-hand home the puck, trimming the Toronto lead to 3-2.

Vegas took advantage of its chance to tie the game, too. First was a standard power play after a tripping call on Kyle Clifford, but when the Maple Leafs sent a fifth man over the boards, it created 55 seconds of 5-on-3 time for Vegas. Alex Pietrangelo first faked a slapshot to move Morgan Rielly off the pick, then fired a low wrister by Campbell and into the net to the the game with 8:12 left.

That set the stage for the extra period, and the ensuing shootout.

Toronto started the scoring with a beauty of a goal from William Nylander 1:24 after the initial puck drop. The Golden Knights tied it before the period was over though, when Keegan Kolesar scored the first power-play goal of his career with seven minutes to go in the frame.

The second period was tough for the Golden Knights, who were dominant in the opening 10 minutes, then conceded two goals in the final 10. Auston Matthews had the first to continue his career-long hot streak against Vegas, and Ilya Mikheyev's rebound off the end boards sent Vegas to a 3-1 deficit to start the third period.

The Golden Knights led in final shots on goal 34-18.

Golden Knights miss chances in second period, fall behind Maple Leafs

The Golden Knights did everything but score in the second period. They owned the first half of the period and when they didn't convert on their chances, the Maple Leafs made sure to, and took the lead.

Toronto scored twice in the final 10 minutes of the period after spending the first 10 in its own zone, and put the Golden Knights in a 3-1 hole heading to the third period at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday.

The Golden Knights did a terrific job early in the second of not allowing Toronto to exit its zone. At one point Vegas pinned the John Tavares line and Morgan Rielly pairing in their own zone for 2:39 of game time, forcing two icings along the way and making them defend the whole time. They even earned a power play when Jake Muzzin tried to shoot the puck out quickly, but it went over the glass for delay of game.

All of that though, didn't lead to much for Vegas, as the Maple Leafs netted the first goal of the period. Michael Bunting slid the puck across the slot to Auston Matthews, who put home his eighth goal in seven career games against the Golden Knights at 11:43 to restore Toronto's lead to 2-1.

Toronto answered its own goal with another. Wayne Simmonds' initial shot went off the end boards and in an unlucky bounce for Vegas, landed to the left of the net and prime for an Ilya Mikheyev rebound. His quick shot found the net, and the Maple Leafs led 3-1 with 3:14 to go in the second.

The Golden Knights led 14-6 in shots in the period, and grabbed a 20-15 advantage for the game.

Golden Knights, Maple Leafs tied after first period

When the Golden Knights and Toronto Maple Leafs play, you can count on exciting hockey.

There were only 13 total shots on goal in the first period Tuesday, but both sides made them count, each scoring once and finishing an entertaining period in a 1-1 draw at T-Mobile Arena.

The Golden Knights entered the game with a depleted blue line when Shea Theodore was among three players who entered COVID-19 protocols before the game. It left Vegas vulnerable to a deep forward group, and the Maple Leafs took advantage of that early on.

Defenseman Morgan Rielly started the play from the Toronto end as William Nylander darted between two Vegas defensemen. Rielly hit Nylander, who danced around Brayden McNabb and in on Robin Lehner alone. A player like Nylander doesn't often miss those chances and he didn't at 1:24 of the first, putting a nice move on the Vegas goalie and burying the puck for a 1-0 lead.

Zach Whitecloud later took a hooking call attempting to slow down a streaking Ondrej Kase, and while the Maple Leafs didn't score on the power play it was clear Vegas was frustrated early on with the Maple Leafs' attack.

But the best way to counter a good offense is with one of your own. While Toronto went 0-for-2 on the power play in the first, the Golden Knights converted on their first chance of the game. Evgenii Dadonov made a nice play to scoop the puck out from behind the net and feed it to the front, where Keegan Kolesar was waiting to jam home the game-tying goal at the 13-minute mark.

Toronto led 8-5 in shots after the first.

Golden Knights set to take on high-flying Maple Leafs

There are few teams in the NHL as dangerous as the Toronto Maple Leafs, particularly with the puck on their sticks.

The Golden Knights welcome in one of the league's iconic franchises to T-Mobile Arena for a 7 p.m. duel that will be anything but slow-paced. Toronto has arguably the best goal scorer in the world at center, and three players are at a point-per-game pace, with a goalie having a career year at the other end.

"We enjoy those games. We certainly play well against teams that are going to test us," Vegas defenseman Alex Pietrangelo said. "We really feel our defensive structure has really gotten to that next level, so no better way to test it than to play against them, who have a lot of guys up front that can really make plays and score."

Auston Matthews, William Nylander and John Tavares all have more points than games played, defenseman Morgan Rielly leads the team in assists, and Mitchell Marner has played to his usual production, despite missing a good chunk of games.

That doesn't even get to goalie Jack Campbell, who leads the NHL with a .936 save percentage. He's owned the Golden Knights in his career, even dating back to his time with the Kings, with a .975 save percentage in four outings against Vegas. He notched a 26-save shutout in his meeting with the Golden Knights earlier this season.

"When you look at the analytics and dive in on them, they’re just a really solid hockey team," Vegas coach Pete DeBoer said. "I think for us, first and foremost, it’s who do we have available tonight. Let’s get our best lineup on the ice. We understand the challenge of playing a really good team like this coming in, and we’ve got to rise to the occasion."

DeBoer was referring to potential issues with COVID-19 and injuries. This morning's skate was optional, but Monday's practice was without Nicolas Roy, Nolan Patrick, William Carrier and Shea Theodore, among players who skated in the team's last game Saturday. Their statuses are unknown for tonight.

The Golden Knights will need everyone they can get, as they've always struggled against the Maple Leafs. They lost 4-0 in Toronto in November and have just two wins against them all-time (2-3-2), tied for the fewest against any opponent.

The Golden Knights are also looking to improve their record at home this season. They've lost three out of their last four at T-Mobile Arena and are just 12-9-1 there this season.

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

Radio: Fox Sports 1340 AM and 98.9 FM

Betting line: Golden Knights plus-110, Maple Leafs minus-130; over/under: 6 (minus-105, minus-115)

Golden Knights (23-14-1, 47 points; 1st place, Pacific Division)

Coach: Pete DeBoer (third season)

Points leader: Chandler Stephenson (35)

Goals leader: Jonathan Marchessault (18)

Assists leader: Chandler Stephenson (25)

Expected goalie: Robin Lehner (2.92 GAA, .906 save percentage)

Maple Leafs (22-8-3, 47 points; 3rd place, Atlantic Division)

Coach: Sheldon Keefe (third season)

Points leader: Auston Matthews (36)

Goals leader: Auston Matthews (22)

Assists leader: Morgan Rielly (24)

Expected goalie: Jack Campbell (1.99 GAA, .936 save percentage)

Golden Knights projected lineup

Forwards

Evgenii Dadonov—Chandler Stephenson—Mark Stone

Jonathan Marchessault—William Karlsson—Reilly Smith

Mattias Janmark—Nicolas Roy—Keegan Kolesar

William Carrier—Brett Howden—Nolan Patrick

Defensemen

Brayden McNabb—Alex Pietrangelo

Shea Theodore—Zach Whitecloud

Ben Hutton—Dylan Coghlan

Goalies

Robin Lehner, Logan Thompson