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The Knightly Recap: Week 6 Part 2

Andre ParaisoBy Updated:5 Mins Read

Welcome to part two of this week’s Knightly Recap. To go back to part one, click here. This portion of the week’s Knightly Recap covers the big outdoor game between the Golden Knights and Avalanche at Lake Tahoe. Also, this portion takes a look ahead of the games for the Golden Knights this week. Without further of due, please enjoy part two of this week’s Knightly Recap.

Feb. 20 at Colorado Avalanche (Technically)

Going Back to Their Roots

This was it. The big game at Lake Tahoe at Stateline, Nevada between the Golden Knights and Avalanche. This game was the first of two games with the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers playing the second outdoor game the next day. Also, this game marks the first outdoor game for the Golden Knights in franchise history and it was a special moment for all the players. Even those who’ve played an outdoor game before the Golden Knights came to existence.

It Was a Long Day For Both Teams

The game went as scheduled but the sun started to melt parts of the ice in the neutral zone during the first period. And the sun has always been the enemy for the league’s outdoors games but this wasn’t like anything they’ve experienced before. 

There wasn’t any cloud coverage in the area where the rink was built. It was all on the other side on top of the snow capped mountains. However, there was cloud coverage during both teams’ practice times so theoretically the league thought those clouds would be there before puck drop.

Because of this problem, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, along with the NHLPA, postponed the rest of the game to finish at 9 PM PST on NBCSN instead of NBC. Prior to the game’s postponement, the Avalanche led the game 1-0.

NATHAN! MAAAAAAAACKINNON! Part 2

It seems that MacKinnon has found his scoring touch since the team’s COVID-19 outbreak. Even Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo was cautious about having to defend MacKinnon during one defensive possession in the game. Pietrangelo was mic’d up during the game and as he saw MacKinnon skating towards his direction, Pietrangelo simply says “Oh boy.” Then MacKinnon found a way to score around Pietrangelo and Fleury from an unique shooting angle as MacKinnon scored his fourth goal of the season. Pietrangelo also said that “there isn’t much you could do” while he was on the Golden Knights bench.

It Took Exactly Nine Hours Between the First and Second Goals of the Game

Yes. Nine exact hours between the first two goals of the game. Golden Knights defenseman Alec Martinez scored during the second period to tie the game at one.

Vegas Keeps Striking… Penalties?

No, it’s not gold the Golden Knights struck from this game. The Golden Knights ran into penalty issues again during this game. One in particular may have cost them significant momentum and that was from Golden Knights forward Chandler Stephenson. Avalanche forward Tyson Jost was called for an interference penalty but Stephenson retaliated by cross checking Jost; which could have cost the Golden Knights gaining a lead in this game.

But it wouldn’t be Stephenson’s goal that was detrimental for the team. The Golden Knights committed four penalties in this game including the one from Stephenson. Their penalty issues have been a constant theme of how and why they’ve been in tightly contested games lately. In order for the Golden Knights to have the success they had in the early stages of this season, they have to cut down on their penalties. Simple as that.

Up Next on the Knightly Recap

The Golden Knights face the Avalanche for the fourth straight game completing this first set of matchups between both teams. Vegas will be traveling to Denver to continue their four game road trip though technically both teams played in a neutral territory a.k.a. Lake Tahoe. The Golden Knights will then go back to San Jose to face the Sharks for the second time this season and finish off their road trip in Anaheim to face the Ducks.

The season is almost at the halfway mark and the Golden Knights are looking good so far despite their two losses they suffered in their last two games. Vegas currently sits in second place in the Honda West Division while Colorado is right behind them at third. Overall, the Golden Knights have dropped down to the tenth spot after being in the top five about a week or two ago.

The Golden Knights have more work to do in order to get back to the promised land that is the Stanley Cup Final. Until then, stay tuned for the next Knightly Recap.

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