Missed Defensive Assignments, Missed Opportunity, Golden Knights Drop Game 2

Finding a goal in Game 2 for the Vegas Golden Knights (1-1) proved to be as difficult as finding a single-zero roulette wheel in a Vegas casino, losing 3-1 to the Anaheim Ducks (1-1) at T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday night. Stellar play by Anaheim goalie Lukas Dostal and two missed defensive assignments by the Golden Knights that led directly to two Anaheim goals proved to be the difference in the game. While the first period was scoreless, it was not for a lack of opportunities.

Anaheim got a golden opportunity early in the first period to get the game’s first goal when the Golden Knights took four-consecutive penalties. First, Tomas Hertl was assessed a two-minute minor for high-sticking John Carlson at 3:14, next Mitch Marner was whistled for delay of game for shooting the puck out of play, and then when things seemed that they could not get any worse for the Golden Knights, Jack Eichel took a double-minor for high-sticking Mikael Granlund at 5:33. The Anaheim power play clicked at an amazing 50% in the first round against Edmonton, but went 0-4 in Game 1 and followed that up with an 0-4 in the four-consecutive first period chances in Game 2.

The Golden Knights penalty kill was so effective that Anaheim recorded zero shots during a combined 1:42 of 5-on-3 play. The Golden Knights power play has been stellar thus far in the playoffs, boasting a 95% success rate prior to going a perfect five-for-five in Game 2. Other than the Golden Knights penalty kill, the other story of the first period was the shot discrepancy.

The Golden Knights actually went 12+ minutes without a shot, including a two-minute power play opportunity where they did not even attempt a shot. The Golden Knights recorded a shot from Hertl at 16:46 and did not get another until a Ben Hutton shot on goal at 3:57. Overall, the Golden Knights were outshot 13-4 in the first.