Thompson makes 36 saves, as Golden Knights improve to 8-0-1.
The Vegas Golden Knights picked up two points in a 4-3 shootout victory against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena.
The wine extended the Golden Knights’ point streak to nine games, improving to 8-0-1 on the season.
Michael Amadio, William Carrier, and Mark Stone all scored, while Logan Thompson made 36 saves including all three in the shootout.
“We were forced to kick it up a gear,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “When we’re dragged into a fight that way or when we’re on our toes right away, we’re a real good hockey team. When we don’t have that, it’s hit or miss.”
Here are the three takeaways:
Thompson stellar again in net
Thompson was asked to do a lot in against the Kings, making 36 saves. He also stopped all three shots in the shootout.
It was an uncharacteristically high number of shots that the goalie had to face in Cassidy’s shot suppression system. Overall, Thompson was, once again, flashing signs of why he was an All-Star last season.
“He’s solid in there. Couple of rebounds that he couldn’t do much about anyway,” Cassidy said. “Those are the ones we have to clear for him. That’s what I’m saying about the slot battle. We need to do a better job in front of our goaltender on the second chance pucks. Get them out of there.”
Wild Bill and Company
The third line featuring Amadio, William Karlsson and Pavel Dorofeyev was stellear on both sides of the ice for the Golden Knights.
They scored a goal, but the bigger difference maker was their ability to control the puck and provide good shifts in the offensive zone. This is an example of the stellar depth that Golden Knights have. On a night where the Stone-Chandler Stephenson-Paul Cotter line failed to register a shot until the third period, it was the third line that lifted the team in critical moments and provided enough of a spark to get the team the two points.
‘Karly’s line has done a real good job for us no matter who’s played with him,” Cassidy said. “Tonight, it was ‘Pav’ again and he did a good job with ‘Ammo.’ They were around the front of the net. They did a good job away from the puck as well. They got us going.”
Somewhat Special
The special teams has been uneven throughout the first nine games of the season. The only game that it has affected the Golden Knights was the loss against Chicago, but generally, the lack of special teams production hasn’t hurt the team.
Against the Kings, the first power-play unit got a big goal from Stone that gave the Golden Knights a 3-2 lead late in the game.
“Power play scores a big goal. We didn’t get that against Chicago. It might have ended up costing us a point,” Cassidy said. “Big goal from ‘Stoney.’ The penalty kill’s intensity was clear.”
If the special teams could play more consistently, the Golden Knights will be a much more dangerous team.
