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The Knightly Recap: Week 22

Andre ParaisoBy Updated:7 Mins Read

Last week on the Knightly Recap, the Vegas Golden Knights advanced to the second round to face division rival Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche took the first two games while the Golden Knights came back and won game 3 to cut Colorado’s series lead 2-1.

This week on the Knightly Recap, the Golden Knights and Avalanche continue their series for games 4, 5 and potential 6. With that said, welcome to week 22 of the Knightly Recap.

Game 4: June 6 vs. Colorado Avalanche

How to Survive an Avalanche: Shoot the Puck

The Golden Knights are known for getting many shot attempts and shots on goal. And this game was no different. The Golden Knights out shot the Avalanche in every period which resulted in a 35-18 shots on goal advantage.

And they didn’t waste those opportunities either. The Golden Knights were able to capitalize on their scoring chances five times, scoring twice in the second and third periods.

How to Survive an Avalanche: Face It Head On

Let’s also credit the defense from the Golden Knights this game. As mentioned earlier, the Avalanche were held to 18 shots on goal for the entire game. And that’s in part by the defense by the Golden Knights.

They forced turnovers which gave them 13 takeaways and had themselves a good hard checking, physical game in the defensive and neutral zones.

Hats! Come Get Your Hats Jonathan!

It’s only the second round of these Stanley Cup Playoffs but the Golden Knights got themselves another hat trick. This time from Golden Knight forward Jonathan Marchessault. Marchessault scored in all three periods with one of them being another game tying goal. Also, this was Marchessault’s first career playoff hat trick.

Final score: 5-1 VGK

Goal scorers: COL – Brandon Saad (7:07 1st Period)

VGK – Jonathan Marchessault (7:07 1st Period, 11:28 2nd Period, 6:01 3rd Period), Max Pacioretty (1:11 2nd Period), Patrick Brown (13:13 3rd Period)

Series: 2-2

Game 5: June 8 at Colorado Avalanche

Close Battle But the Avalanche Keeps Coming

This game was important for both teams. First, the Golden Knights needed this win after forcing a game 6 with their game 4 win. They would also go back home with a 3-2 series lead with a game 5 win.

Second, the Avalanche had lost two games in a row and needed all the momentum from a game 5 home win to carry on heading into Vegas for game 6.

The Avalanche didn’t shy away from the challenge as forward Brandon Saad scored with just one second remaining in the first period. Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury misread where the puck was going, allowing Saad’s shot to go in. The Avalanche would also score in the second period from forward Joonas Donskoi giving them a 2-0 lead heading into the third.

The Comeback Kings Are Still Here

The Golden Knights are no strangers when it comes to playing with adversity. They’ve already been down 2-0 once this series and came back to win it 3-2. That was in game 3 where Marchessault tied the game during the third period and Golden Knights forward Max Pacioretty scored the game winning goal 45 seconds after Marchessault’s goal.

And they came back in this game as well which gave them even more confidence going into game 6. Golden Knights forward Alex Tuch batted the puck into the net to tie the game in the early stages of the third period. Three minutes later, Marchessault scored another tying goal making the game 2-2.

The Golden Knights were able to hold on and send the game into overtime as the Avalanche made a push to score a game winning goal.

Overtime Kings Are Back

The Avalanche almost won the game after losing a 2-0 lead just 10 seconds into overtime. Avalanche forwards Gabriel Landeskog and J.T. Compher had two combined scoring chances to end the game with Compher’s attempt being the best one. However, Fleury was able to recover to stop Compher’s shot after Landeskog’s shot attempt just seconds before.

That save would be huge as it gave the Golden Knights a second chance. And they made it count as Golden Knights captain Mark Stone scored 50 seconds into overtime to win the game.

Stone had also blocked a shot from Avalanche defenseman Ryan Graves with Graves shooting once more only to get it blocked again.

Final score: 3-2 VGK

Goal scorers: COL – Brandon Saad (19:58 1st Period), Joonas Donskoi (16:28 2nd Period)

VGK – Alex Tuch (1:03 3rd Period), Jonathan Marchessault (4:07 3rd Period), Mark Stone (00:50 OT)

Series: 3-2 VGK

Game 6: June 10 vs. Colorado Avalanche

A Competitive Back and Forth Game 6

This was elimination day for the Avalanche and they didn’t hold back. Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews scored 23 seconds into the game. A telling sign that the Avalanche weren’t going to be eliminated easily. Golden Knights defenseman Nick Holden scored 52 seconds after Toews’ goal, tying the game at one. This was going to be a game for the ages.

The second period was the most interesting with the Golden Knights having a 2-1 lead heading into the period. Both teams took turns scoring goals. Avalanche forwards Mikko Rantanen and Andre Burakovsky kept the team in the game. But it would be Golden Knights forward Keegan Kolesar and defenseman Alex Pietrangelo that held on to a one goal lead going into the third. Pietrangelo’s goal also marked his first playoff goal with the Golden Knights. Koelsar’s goal marked his first career playoff goal.

A Tip from Carrier

They say that one good possession in any sport can be the biggest difference in a game. And that rings true with Golden Knights forward William Carrier scoring a third period goal to extend their lead to two. Carrier deflected the puck over Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer after the puck hit an Avalanche stick.

That would be the goal that eliminated the President’s Trophy winners. Pacioretty also scored an empty net goal to make sure their win was secured.

Fleury Moving Up in the G.O.A.T Conversation

With this win, Fleury now moves past Billy Smith and Ed Belfour for sole possession of fourth place in the NHL’s most playoff wins of all time. Fleury has won 89 playoff games in his career.

Also, Fleury is three wins shy of tying Grant Fuhr with 92 wins.

Final score: 6-3 VGK

Goal scorers: COL – Devon Toews (00:23 1st Period), Mikko Rantanen (3:47 2nd Period), Andre Burakovsky (16:52 2nd Period)

VGK – Nick Holden (1:15 1st Period), William Karlsson (15:06 1st Period), Keegan Kolesar (14:27 2nd Period), Alex Pietrangelo (19:42 2nd Period), William Carrier (11:46 3rd Period), Max Pacioretty (16:50 3rd Period)

Series: 4-2 VGK

Up Next on the Knightly Recap

The Golden Knights advance to the semifinals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second time in a row. They will face the red hot Montréal Canadiens for the first time in a postseason.

The Golden Knights also became the third team in history to make it to the semifinals in three of their first four seasons. The St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers are the two other teams.

This will be an interesting matchup for two reasons. First, both teams never had the chance to play one another due to the realignment of the divisions this season. Second, both teams have a very similar play style. Adding in a bonus, both teams know how to play through adversity which makes this series even more interesting.

Both teams will play on Monday June 13 with the first two games in Las Vegas, NV. Who will win game 1? Until then, stay tuned for the next Knightly Recap.

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