SAN JOSE, Calif. – The Las Vegas Golden Knights will advance to the Western Conference finals following their win in the second round, against the San Jose Sharks in game 6, with a final score of 3-0. The win puts the Golden Knights, as an expansion team, into the record books once again.
Golden Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury recorded his second shut-out of the series – Photo by Jack Lima
These two teams played a very physical and fast paced game in the first two periods, but the Sharks took their foot off the gas for most of the third period, and seemed to sail to the end of their season.
Early in the first period, San Jose had a great scoring chance, but after review, the puck had hit the top bar and bounced away. By the first intermission, the score remained knotted at zero.
Brayden McNabb (3) and Mikkel Boedker (89) fight for a rebound – Photo by Jack Lima
In the second period, the Golden Knights scored a pair of goals to give them the 2-0 lead. Reilly Smith shot the puck towards the net, where Jonathan Marchessault was waiting to redirect it to the net. The puck beat Martin Jones in the net for the Sharks, 6:33 into the period. The second goal appeared to have ricocheted off of the post, and the play continued. At the next whistle, the Las Vegas bench requested a review of the play. Upon review, their determination was a goal. The puck had hit the right post, and bounced into the net, deflecting off of a camera inside the net, then back out into play. The goal, 15:38 into the period was credited to Nate Schmidt.
Nate Schmidt moves the puck up ice – Photo by Jack Lima
The Sharks pulled Jones with just over two minutes remaining in the third period, in favor of an extra skater, but a loose puck in the neutral zone, gave Las Vegas the opportunity to seal their win with one more goal, as Cody Eakin flipped the puck into the net, from low in the slot. Following the goal, Jones remained in the net for the rest of the game.
Jonathan Marchessault (left) celebrated his second period goal with William Karlsson (71) – Photo by Jack Lima
Marc-Andre Fleury looked great in the net all night, stopping everything that came his way, managing this fourth shut-out of the post season, with 28 saves for the night. Jones finished the night with 30 saves against the Golden Knights.
The Golden Knights will advance to the Western Conference finals and will face the winner of the Predators and Jets game. At the time of this story, the Jets lead the series 3-2.
Golden Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury drives to make a stop on a shot from Brent Burns (88) during first period action – Photo by Jack Lima
Sharks goalie Martin Jones makes a stop on a shot by Alex Tuck (89) as Joakim Ryan (47) defends – Photo by Jack Lima
Sharks goalie Martin Jones drives to attempt a save on a shot by Brayden McNabb (3) – Photo by Jack Lima
Sharks forward Joonas Donskol (27) tries to control the puck in a scrum in front of the net – Photo by Jack Lima
Ryan Carpenter (40) skates the puck around the net as Joe Pavelski (8) defends – Photo by Jack Lima
Pierre-Edouard Belllemare takes a shot on net – Photo by Jack Lima
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