Dynamic duo
Pietrangelo-theodore pairing plays key role
The defensive pairing of Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore gives the Knights a controlling force.
The early years of the Golden Knights were littered with questions about whether the franchise had or could acquire a No. 1 defenseman. Now the team has two on one pair. Coach Pete Deboer, when shuffling his lineup Monday against Colorado, put Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore together. It resulted in a two-headed monster that controlled the game nearly every shift it was on the ice during a 3-2 overtime win Saturday night at the Anaheim Ducks.
“Both of us like to skate, both of us like to move the puck, so it seems like we’re creating opportunities getting up the ice,” Pietrangelo said. “It’s tough to defend us on the breakout, which I think is big for us. When we can do that clean and execute coming out of our end, we’re tough to handle.”
Deboer had resisted the temptation to put his best two defensemen on one pair. Down the stretch during the regular season and into the playoffs last season, he had Theodore and Nate Schmidt play separately at five-on-five.
Schmidt and Brayden Mcnabb focused on the tougher defensive assignments. Theodore and Alec Martinez pushed for offense against easier matchups.
Deboer tried the same formula to start this season with Pietrangelo taking Schmidt’s place. He mixed up things when searching for a spark Monday in Denver and found something that worked.
The Knights have outscored their opponents 3-0 with Theodore and Pietrangelo on the ice together in the last two games. Pietrangelo scored Saturday on a play that showcased both their skills. He fired a pass from below the goal line to Theodore at the point. His partner slid it right back to him in the right circle to set up a shot.
“He’s such a good passer. He can make plays like that,” Theodore said.
The Knights hope there’s more to come, if they stay together. Playing Theodore and Pietrangelo together concentrates the blue line’s offense rather than spreading it out. In a limited sample size, the team’s new second and third pairs have been on the ice for one goal for and two against at five-on-five the last two games. The Knights will have to see if that trend continues.
Another factor Deboer will have to weigh when deciding the partnership’s future is where to wants to position Theodore. The 25-year-old is a left-hand shot but has played on the right most of the last twoplus seasons because it gives him favorable shooting angles. Deboer said Saturday morning he doesn’t think moving Theodore to the left and partnering him with a righty in Pietrangelo changes much about his game.
“I think a young player feels more confident in one spot or another,” Deboer said. “I think when you get established in your game and confident in your game like Theo has, I think you can stick him anywhere and he’s going to bring good things to the table.”
Even if Pietrangelo and Theodore split up down the road, there still will be times when they play together. Deboer has put them both on the ice previously late in periods and games when the Knights have an offensive-zone faceoff or need a goal.
The chemistry they’re building should only help them in those situations.
“Obviously, two elite offensive-thinking defensemen,” Deboer said. “When you’re defending against two guys like that, you have to respect both their ability to make plays and or beat you with their feet. I think you get a little more room.”