In Vancouver, the Canucks surrendered a 4-2 lead in the third period on Monday night in a 5-4 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Knights scored three goals in the third period to erase the deficit. They made quick work of the rally, with Alex Pietrangelo hitting the winner at 14:41 of the period.
Logan Thompson made 25 saves in the Vegas win.
“We’ve proven that to ourselves this year that we don’t feel like we’re ever out of the game, no matter what the score and time is,” said Vegas forward Jack Eichel, who had two assists. “It feels like as a group on the bench, we never think that we’re out of it, and that just goes to show the belief we have in each other.”
The Golden Knights improved to 15-4-1.
It was one of those losses that makes an organization rethink its future.
“That’s nothing to do with systems or what the coaches are telling us; that comes down to battle and compete,” Canucks defenseman Luke Schenn said. “We’re getting outmuscled and outbattled in front of the net and in the blue paint. Everyone just needs to be better in front of [Demko]. That’s where games are won and lost.”
Vancouver trailed the Knights, 2-1, entering the third period.
Bo Horvat tied it with just over a minute gone in the final frame.
By 6:11 of the period, Schenn and Elias Pettersson had given the Canucks a 4-2 advantage.
“Advantage” is the wrong work.
“We came out so well in the third and as soon as we got up by two, it’s just like we shut it down again,” Horvat said. “We got away from our game and just let them come and a team like that, obviously they’re No. 1 in our division, one of the best teams in the League for a reason. We took our foot off the gas for too long.”
Vancouver fell to 6-10-3.
By 8:57, Vegas tied the game on William Carrier‘s second goal of the game, and Reilly Smith’s strike for a 4-4 game.
“We don’t want to let it get to that but the resiliency is there, so you take the good and the bad,” Stone said. “Let them off the hook but found a way to get it done.”
Andrei Kuzmenko also scored for the Canucks, his goal gave the Canucks a 1-0 lead in the first period.
Carrier and Stone scored in reply to give the Golden Knights a 2-1 lead.
“There’s definitely some things we’d like to clean up, but you can’t argue when we’re down two goals in the third period and we find a way to win and get two points and in regulation,” Vegas’ Jack Eichel said.
Thatcher Demko made 33 saves in the Canucks loss.
You must be logged in to post a comment.