Recap and Standings
The Vegas Golden Knights following their loss to the Blues on Jan 26 and their covid pause have gone on to a record of 5-2-0 to continue their hot start within the first month of the season. They are currently in the middle of a four-game series against the Colorado Avalanche where they are tied 1-1 with the next game being the NHL Outdoors game featured at Lake Tahoe. In VGK’s current run they have also split two games with the Anaheim Ducks, picked up two victories against the Los Angeles Kings, and gained a win against their heated rival the San Jose Sharks.
One of the reasons for the Knights’ success can be drawn to the outstanding goaltending by Marc-Andre Fleury who has won seven of his last eight starts which includes two shutout victories. The one loss came against the Anaheim Ducks on Feb 11 which was a 1-0 decision where Fleury stopped 27 out of 28 shots. The VGK have one of the most expensive goalie duos in the league after re-signing Robin Lehner to a five-year deal and were expecting to split more time between the two of them but Marc has seemingly taken control of the starting position for now.
In the Honda West Division standings, the Knights despite their leading points percentage of .750 are 1 point behind (21) to the St. Louis Blues (22). The VGK have played 3 fewer games than the Blues who are 10-5-2 while the Knights are 10-3-1. The Avalanche who are trailing just behind at 8-4-1 will look to gain ground this Saturday and Monday to close out the divisional series. The Golden Knights are 2nd to only the Avalanche in point differential in the division at their (+12) to Colorado’s (+14), the Avalanche have had superb goaltending as well with only 27 goals allowed to the VGK’s 31 with only one more game played by Vegas.
NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe
Vegas’ next contest will be the NHL Outdoors game against the Colorado Avalanche at Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada Mountains along the Nevada and California border. The 2021 ‘Winter Classic’ will be played at the Edgewood Tahoe Resort where the ice hockey rink was built on the golf resort’s 18th fairway located along the shores of Lake Tahoe with stunning views of the surrounding trees and snow-covered mountains.
The game: Saturday Feb 20 at 12:00pm PT aired on NBC, TVAS, SN, SN1
Vegas Odds from William Hill Sportsbook (02/19/21, 10:30pm PT)
- Golden Knights odds -110
- Golden Knights +1.5pts = -240
- Avalanche odds -110
- Avalanche -1.5pts = +210
- Over/Under for the contest is 5.5 points
Roster Moves
- Defensemen Shea Theodore returned to the VGK lineup against the Avalanche on Feb 16 after missing 3 games, he recorded an assist
- Forward Gage Quinney has been sent down to the AHL Henderson Silver Knights on Feb 17
- Defensemen Carl Dahlstrom has been sent down to the Silver Knights on Feb 18
- Goaltender Dylan Ferguson and Forward Patrick Brown recalled from HSK to the VGK Taxi Squad on Feb 18
Gold Helmets
Very superstitious, the writing is on the fan-created change.org wall to get rid of the VGK’s new gold chrome helmets. The Golden Knights which debuted the helmets on Feb 11 in their contest against the Ducks and again on Feb 16 versus the Avalanche have lost both games. I guess the Vegas fans have gotten used to the Knights’ winning ways on the ice that when they lose a game they have to pin it on something, just happens to be on both occasions when the new gold helmets were worn.
As of 11:00pm PT on Feb 19 the petition to get rid of the gold helmets has 810 of their 1,000 signature goal. You can view or sign at https://www.change.org/p/bill-foley-get-rid-of-the-vegas-golden-knights-gold-helmets?source_location=topic_page&use_react=false
Forgetting the helmets, luck must’ve just not been on their side, especially on Feb 11 when the VGK players wore special Chinese New Year-themed red jerseys during warm-ups which featured their last names in Mandarin. They ended up losing the game to the Ducks 1-0. Fans who would like to purchase the jerseys can do so at The Arsenal at City National Arena and The Armory at T-Mobile Arena.
Image Credits: Gordon Weigers @GoldenKnights (2021, Feb 11). Golden Knights Halted by Ducks, 1-0. Retrieved Feb 19, 2021, from https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/news/golden-knights-halted-by-ducks-1-0/c-321333788
Image Credits: Vegas Golden Knights @GoldenKnights (2021, Feb 11). Golden Knights Announce Plans For Chinese New Year Night On February 11. Retrieved Feb 19, 2021, from https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/news/golden-knights-announce-plans-for-chinese-new-year-night-on-february-11/c-321308278
Image Credits: Vegas Golden Knights @GoldenKnights (2021, Feb 15). VGK Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury Named NHL’s Second Star Of The Week. Retrieved Feb 18, 2021, from https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/news/vgk-goaltender-marc-andre-fleury-named-nhls-second-star-of-the-week/c-321421232
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