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The Knightly Recap: Week 5 Part 2

Andre ParaisoBy Updated:6 Mins Read

This is part two of the Knightly Recap: Week 5. The second part consists of the two Golden Knights home games against the Anaheim Ducks and their first meeting against their most heated rival, the San Jose Sharks. Let’s continue with week 5 of the Knightly Recap.

Feb. 9 vs. Anaheim Ducks

First Two Periods Were a Breeze… As Usual

The Golden Knights scored two goals in the first period and once in the second. All but 10 Golden Knights forwards got at least one point during the first two periods, which made it possible to make any adjustments to their game. This also goes to show that their production on the ice has been on the upward trend since coming back from their COVID-19 hiatus.

Vegas’ third line, consisting of Alex Tuch, Cody Glass and Nicolas Roy, had two goals during the second period with goals from Tuch and Roy. Also, Glass is on a current three game point streak and is starting to show confidence in his game.

Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves also dropped his gloves for the first time this season. He fought Ducks forward Nick Deslauriers during the first period after Deslauriers laid a hit on Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=646N9HaRO6A]

Ducks Came Swimming Back In the Third But It Wasn’t Enough

The Ducks were able to hold their own ground during this game. They were down two goals at the end of one and three goals at the end of two. This third period was the Ducks’ best third period this season. They’re usually on the struggling end when it comes to scoring goals in the last period but this game was different.

Anaheim scored three unanswered goals in under five minutes. Ducks forwards Troy Terry, Adam Henrique and Ryan Getzlaf were the goal scorers. They were able to capitalize on the Golden Knights’ turnovers and blown defensive coverage with most of the Ducks’ takeaways coming in this period. To say the very least, this was the worst third period for the Golden Knights so far this season. 

However, it would be Whitecloud who scored the game winning goal with 3:56 left in the period. Vegas was able to fend off the oncoming late push from Anaheim during the last two minutes of the third and secure their eighth win of the season.

Golden Knights’ Turnover Problem Exposes a Key Issue on This Team

Turnovers are bound to happen in any game and sport. But in hockey, giving away the puck in the defensive zone is usually detrimental to a team. The Golden Knights have gotten way to comfortable with making blind passes with no puck support or retrieval. This has to change in order for them to break out of their defensive zone cleanly on a consistent basis. It’s still early in this condensed season so there’s time for Vegas to clean up their game heading into their busy schedule next week.

It’s Still Blooming Season for Fleury

This wasn’t Fleury’s best game this season but he definitely didn’t let up after allowing three straight goals during the third period. Fleury made key saves throughout the game as he’s done in all of his five starts so far. Also, Fleury has yet to change his pads and glove as he stuck with his gold glove and pads.

Fleury is now 5-0-0 with a 1.80 GAA and .920 save percentage. Although those numbers look good, it has dropped compared to his first three games of the season where he only allowed practically one goal per game. But, like any future hall of famer, Fleury knows how to bounce back and get his game back. And that’s important considering how condensed the season is this year.

COVID-19 Strikes the Golden Knights Again

During the third period, Golden Knights forward Tomas Nosek left the game due to having a positive COVID-19 test result. After the game, the Golden Knights announced that their post game media availability was cancelled and that they wouldn’t hold practice on Wednesday, Feb. 10 due to COVID-19 protocol.

As of Feb. 10, the Golden Knights and Ducks are still scheduled to play on Feb. 11. This suggests that the Golden Knights didn’t have another COVID-19 break out. The Golden Knights had a previous break out that kept Pietrangelo, three coaches and one taxi squad player were placed on the league’s COVID-19 protocol list.

The good news for Vegas is that they have all of the coaching staff back. Also, Pietrangelo was seen during the morning skate prior to the start of this game. Pietrangelo is expected to play the next game against the Ducks this Thursday.

Shea Theodore Possibly Not Playing Next Game

Theodore left the game twice during the second and third periods. Theodore never returned to the bench after he left the second time. He could’ve possibly suffered at least a minor injury from his collision with Deslauriers in the first period. Because of this, the Golden Knights recalled defenseman Carl Dahlstrom and forward Tyrell Goulbourne from their AHL affiliate team, the Henderson Silver Knights. They also sent forward Tomas Jurco and defenseman Kaedan Korczak back to the Silver Knights.

Who’s Up For a Knightly Recap Trilogy?

That was a lot of information to digest from this game alone. This is why this week’s Knightly Recap has been cut into multiple parts. For one, it makes it easier to read in multiple parts rather than reading one long article. Two, who knows what could happen in these next two games.

As of Feb. 10, Vegas’ outdoor game against the Colorado Avalanche is expected to still happen. The Avalanche currently have three players on the NHL’s COVID Protocol List including their captain Gabriel Landeskog.

Click here for part three of this week’s Knightly Recap.

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