*Photo from the Las Vegas Review-Journal*
Now, I don't normally do multiple game recaps, but I feel that the situation today requires it. There were some really good stories, from Andrew Hammond and the Canadiens to this game. That's why I'm doing two game recaps, so give this one a read too.
Jack Eichel needed this. The Vegas Golden Knights needed this. Now, all that is behind them. Eichel scored, Max Pacioretty scored, and the Golden Knights defeated the San Jose Sharks with a 4-1 win on Sunday night in San Jose.
In his 3rd game with the Golden Knights after a trade and recovery from artificial disk replacement surgery, Eichel scored his first goal in the new threads, and it was also his first goal in over a year, with his last coming on January 28, 2021, with the Buffalo Sabres. His goal helped Vegas snap what had become a 3 game losing streak.
Vegas head coach Pete Deboer said that "It just takes a little bit of pressure off him. I liked his game tonight. I thought every game he's taking another step and tonight he was that much better than it was in game one and two. He's starting to get more comfortable, use his speed, starting to get his timing. So good signs."
Keegan Kolesar kicked off the scoring for Vegas, making it 1-0 when he scored 10:14 into the game, his 5th goal of the season. Eichel then scored his first goal and second point with Vegas, coming at the 14:34 mark of the first period. Pacioretty scored the only goal of the second period 1:23 into the period, making it 3-0 Vegas.
The Sharks got on the board to start the 3rd, with Nick Bonino scoring his 6th goal of the season 10:17 into the final period, making it a 3-1 game with the lone assist from Andrew Cogliano. Chandler Stephenson scored on an empty net with 33 seconds left in the game, sealing the 4-1 win on the road.
Vegas D-Man Alex Pietrangelo said of Eichel that "Jack's one of those players that when you watch him and he plays, he makes the people around him better. That's a big compliment. Obviously, when you have players like Stephenson and Pacioretty on his side he's going to make them better. The speed, the hockey sense, playing at a high level, making plays at a high speed. I know when I played against him, that's what makes him lethal offensively."
Making his second career NHL start with Robin Lehner injured was Logan Thompson, who picked up his first career NHL win. Thompson was very good, turning aside 35 of the 36 shots he faced, good for a very strong .972 save percentage, with a 1-1-0 record in his NHL career.
The opposing goalie on the other side of the ice was San Jose's James Reimer, who didn't have as good a night as Thompson. Reimer saved 31 of 34 Vegas shots, good for a .912 save percentage in the loss. Reimer's record dropped to 13-11-4 in 28 starts for the Sharks this season.
Sharks head coach Bob Boughner said that "We had some breakdowns defensively tonight. It's a good offensive team over there, and we held them to only a couple of chances against in the second period. Just another first period where we're chasing and we're down 2-0 or a couple, I would say soft kinds of goals on us. That's not a recipe for success for our team."
The Sharks get back in action with a Tuesday road matchup against the Anaheim Ducks, with Reimer the likely starter. Vegas doesn't play again until Friday against the Arizona Coyotes. If Lehner isn't recovered, look for Laurent Brossoit to start in net.
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