Knights reach another milestone in NHL play-offs
Crosby scores third career postseason hat-trick as Penguins win
Chalk up another milestone for the Vegas Golden Knights. Marc-Andre Fleury made 30 saves for his 11th career play-off shutout, Shea Theodore scored in the first period and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Los Angeles Kings 1-0 on Wednesday night to win the franchise’s first play-off game.
The expansion club will try to take a 2-0 lead in its firstround play-off series tonight.
“It’s another first for our organisation, it’s a big play-off game and I love the way our team responded,” Vegas coach Gerard Gallant said. “Both goalies made some real key saves. It really wasn’t a 1-0 game, it was probably a 4-3 game for somebody, but the goaltending was excellent.
Fleury got his first play-off shutout since last May, when his Penguins beat the Ottawa Senators 1-0 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.
“They’re a big team, they like to shoot from the points with a lot of guys in front of the net and trying to screen and tip pucks” maybe I got a few little more sticks in my legs than the (regular) season, and my face, but it’s all part of the play-offs,” Fleury said. “I felt good, but my teammates were great also. They helped me out a lot, blocking shots and grabbing guys in front of the net, so it makes my job a little easier.”
The Kings, who entered with a combined 928 games of play-off experience, outhit the Golden Knights, 68-59. But it was Vegas that came out looking like a seasoned bunch ready for the postseason. Just like the Golden Knights mascot who slew a bumbling king at centre ice during a pregame show, Vegas was physical from the start.
William Carrier led the team with 10 hits, and Vegas’ aggressive forechecking kept Los Angeles off its game throughout. But Carrier’s diligence on the offensive end seemingly frustrated Los Angeles’ veteran defenceman Drew Doughty, who slammed his shoulder into Carrier’s jaw in the third period. The hit sent the left wing to the locker room for the remainder of the game, while drawing the ire of Gallant.
“Obviously we all seen what happened with the hit ... I thought it was a bad hit, but it’s not for me to decide,” Gallant said. “The referee didn’t think it was a penalty, but I’m sure people will look at that hit and make a decision on it.”
Third hat-trick
Elsewhere, Sidney Crosby had his third career postseason hat-trick, Evgeni Malkin added a highlight-reel goal and the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins opened the play-offs with a 7-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.
Crosby batted a shot out of the air and past goalie Brian Elliott in the second period for his first goal, tapped in one from the doorstep against Petr Mrazek 7:41 into the third and then deflected in another just over three minutes later.
Jake Guentzel had a goal and three assists for Pittsburgh. Bryan Rust and Carl Hagelin also scored. Matt Murray stopped 24 shots for his third straight play-off shutout.