Wilfredo Lee / AP
Florida Panthers left wing Ryan Lomberg celebrates after scoring during the first period against the Vegas Golden Knights, Tuesday, March 7, 2023, in Sunrise, Fla.
Published Tuesday, March 7, 2023 | 6:41 p.m.
Updated Tuesday, March 7, 2023 | 7:29 p.m.
The Golden Knights were kept in the game by their goaltender yet again. The goals just weren't there this time around.
Adin Hill made 34 saves and had another great performance to give his team a chance to win, but Vegas dropped its first game of a five-game road trip 2-1 to the Florida Panthers at FLA Live Arena on Tuesday.
Hill, coming off a 47-save effort in a 4-3 shootout win over the Carolina Hurricanes last week, was strong in net for the Golden Knights yet again. He's 2-2-0 in his last four starts, with the two losses being the only regulation defeats out of the All-Star break (9-2-2).
"They're a good team," forward Reilly Smith said. "They put a lot of pressure on us. Probably turned the puck over too many times, and when we did have opportunities, we didn't capitalize."
Shea Theodore scored the lone goal, a power-play tally to give the defenseman 13 points in 13 games since the bye week, but that was all the Golden Knights (38-20-6) could produce in an effort that ended their three-game winning streak.
It's only Vegas' second regulation loss since returning from the All-Star break (9-2-2) and only the first time this season they've lost in regulation by only allowing two goals or fewer.
"We just weren't ready to start the game," Theodore said. "It's where it came down to bite us."
Slow starts have hindered the Golden Knights before. It's not a new issue. It's why they're considered one of the best response teams in the league, finding ways to come from behind and pull victory from defeat.
But against a Florida team desperate to find its way back to the playoffs, the Golden Knights had to expect a strong effort.
Vegas got that desperate Florida team with a 29-save outing from goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. Ryan Lomberg and Panthers captain Sasha Barkov scored for Florida.
Although the Panthers were last year's Presidents' Trophy winners for the finishing with the most points in the league, they haven't been on that level this year. The Panthers are on the outside looking in from the playoff race in the East, but still with plenty of talent to make a run and challenge in the postseason.
But for as good as Hill was, Bobrovsky had to be as good. The Golden Knights produced 19 high-danger chances in all situations while allowing just nine. Florida, however, out-attempted Vegas 74-57 and put more pressure on Hill as the game went on.
"We only got out of (the first period) 1-0 thanks to Adin," coach Bruce Cassidy said. "It was like (Friday against) New Jersey again, right? Didn't protect the slot, didn't execute on the breakout at all. He held us in."
A dud was not unexpected to begin this road trip. The Golden Knights had an off day Monday following cross-country travel. Neither forward line generated positive possession numbers and played from behind for most of the game.
With a quick turnaround against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, it'll be another quality opponent for the Golden Knights to try for a response.
The Golden Knights could not create separation at the top of the Pacific Division, remaining tied with the Los Angeles Kings at 82 points. L.A. has a game in hand on Vegas, however. The Seattle Kraken can pull within two points of Vegas for first place pending on their result against the Anaheim Ducks later in the evening.
At the very least, the Golden Knights have good goaltending going for them right now.
"He was amazing tonight," Theodore said of Hill. "I don't know how many point-blank saves he made. He's definitely a guy that can keep us in it, and we have to do a better job playing in front of him."
Danny Webster can be reached at 702-259-8814 or [email protected]. Follow Danny on Twitter at twitter.com/DannyWebster21.
