Vegas Loses Battle of Puck Luck, Drops Game 2

The Utah Mammoth defeated the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday to tie their series 1-1. LAS VEGAS — Lady Luck was not on the side of Vegas on Tuesday at T-Mobile Arena as The Utah Mammoth (1-1) defeated the Vegas Golden Knights (1-1) , 3-2 to knot the first round series at one. Both teams capitalized on mistakes by their opponent, but both teams also took advantage of some puck luck.

In Game 2, it was Utah that had just a bit more luck on their side in what was otherwise a pretty evenly played game. In an eventful first period, Lady Puck Luck was with both teams. With Utah’s Logan Cooley off for interference, the Vegas power play went to work.

Mark Stone (2) gained control of the puck down low and attempted a cross-crease pass to teammate Tomas Hertl . However, instead of the puck reaching Hertl, it deflected off the skate of Utah defenseman Mikhail Sergachev and into the net at 11:42 of the first. The tally was Stone’s 12th career post-season power play goal, the most in Vegas franchise history and his 43rd overall post-season goal.

Utah got some puck luck of their own when it tied the game at one. With 3:01 left in the first MacKenzie Weegar (1) took a shot from the point that tipped off Vegas defenseman Noah Hanifin, then off the stick of netminder Carter Hart , then deflected once more off Vegas defenseman Rasmus Andersson’s right shin pad and past an unsuspecting Hart. There was a total of eight penalties called in the first period, five against Utah and three on Vegas.