The Vegas Golden Knights not only reported back in the game against the New York Islanders, but also reclaimed first place in the Pacific Division.
–
On Sunday, coach Peter DeBoer’s team defeated the Islanders 4-3 after a penalty shoot-out in the UBS Arena in Elmont after they fell behind late due to a one-two hit by the home side.
Video: VGK @ NYI: Lehner, Roy lead Vegas to shootout victory
Shea Theodore equalized the game to 3: 3 with his second goal as a goalkeeper Robin Lehner had already cleared his box in favor of another outfield player and had 48 seconds left on the clock. The Golden Knights settled in the Islanders’ defensive third, the disc landed on the blue line Alex Pietrangelowho played it across to his fellow defense attorney Theodore and he pulled away. Jonathan Marchessault undercover Islanders goalkeeper Ilya Sorokin the view and the black hard rubber bullet ended up in the network to compensate. Overtime and penalty shootout!
The Golden Knights took their vigor with them into extra time and into the shootout, in which Theodore was the first shooter to prove his accuracy again. The double point win finally brought under one roof Nicolas royafter Lehner thwarted the Islanders’ first two attempts.
With their fifth win in a row, the Golden Knights took over the lead in the Pacific Division with a record of 20-11-0 and 40 points, ahead of the Anaheim Ducks tied for points. The Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers follow, four points behind, but they have played three and two games fewer than Vegas.
The race for the places to qualify directly for the Stanley Cup Playoffs turns out to be extremely exciting in the Pacific, as the Golden Knights have remedied their weaknesses shown at the start of the season and took full points on their four-game road trip.
DeBoer was accordingly pleased after the latest success.
“I think our game had improved before the trip. I like the way we play, our injured players are coming back and we’re starting to get better. I don’t think anyone predicts that you can win a four-game tour , especially not in these four places (Boston, New Jersey, New York, Long Island). It doesn’t just happen, it’s an ongoing process that you build on. Our game started moving in a good direction, ” explained Vegas coach.
It was also a special evening for Lehner, who was in goal against his former team-mates for the first time. Following the 2018/19 season, the 2019 Vezina Trophy candidate said goodbye to the Islanders as an unrestricted free agent. The 30-year-old fended off 29 shots when he met again and could not be defeated in the penalty shootout.
He thought gratefully back to his time with the Islanders: “For me it’s so much more than ice hockey, I can’t explain it,” said Lehner. “It’s the love I have for the guys there, this team, the organization, the fans, how they have helped me in my life.”
The Golden Knights set another exclamation point that they can be expected again this season. Above all, team unity is one of the characteristics that lead to success. So could the left wing Max Pacioretty For the third time in a row he failed to score after he had distinguished himself as a goalscorer in seven games in a row at the beginning of December, but then others jumped into the breach for him as executors. And if you have to, it’s defensive forces like Theodore.
“Those are important points away from home,” said Theodore. “A lot of things just came together at the right time, from good goalkeeping to getting hits at the right time. That’s great.”
As hard-working point collectors, the Golden Knights can continue to prove themselves in front of a home backdrop, where they will meet the Tampa Bay Lightning in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Tuesday (10:00 pm ET; SN360, SNE, SNO, SNW, TVAS , ATTSN-RM, BSSUN NHL.tv; Wed 4:00 CET) and host the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday (10:00 pm ET; ATTSN-RM, BSW, NHL.tv; Fri 4:00 CET). Afterwards, they would like to continue to say goodbye to the holiday break as the first division.
– .
