Reaves finds Vegas role more fulfilling
It’s bigger than one with Penguins, too
LAS VEGAS — Ryan Reaves emerged from the Vegas Golden Knights’ dressing room late Wednesday, his right eye a little swollen but a gigantic smile plastered on his face.
The reason was his team’s 4-2 win against the Winnipeg Jets in Game 3 of the Western Conference final at T-Mobile Arena, a game in which Reaves not only played but starred.
In 9:42, Reaves delivered six hits and blocked a shot while playing a key energy role on a fourth line with Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Ryan Carpenter, a trio that was entrusted with shifts against top Jets scorers such as Blake Wheeler and Patrik Laine.
It’s a dose of responsibility Reaves rarely saw in his brief time in Pittsburgh, and he had zero problem pinpointing why things never really worked out during an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
“It’s tough doing that with three minutes,” Reaves said. “[Vegas coach Gerard Gallant] allows me to play a little bit more here. He rolls the lines. He doesn’t necessarily worry about the matchup so much. It definitely helps me. It keeps me in the game, and it keeps my legs in it. It allows me to do my thing.”
That didn’t happen much in Pittsburgh.
Reaves averaged a careerlow 6:45 of ice time with the Penguins, a huge departure from the 9:55 he got in the regular season with Vegas after the complex trade that eventually netted the Penguins Derick Brassard.
The biggest difference, Reaves explained, was that coach Mike Sullivan would generally stick to matchups more with Reaves, keeping his ice time low as Reaves never carved out much of a role for himself.
“A little more line matching,” Reaves said of his time in Pittsburgh. “There were some games where I was out there for 3-4 minutes. It’s tough to do anything with that.”
Since regaining his lineup spot at the start of this series, Reaves seemingly has made the most of his opportunity, protecting teammates and finishing checks.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Reaves said.
This might not qualify as breaking news, but Reaves said he absolutely loves playing in Vegas. Not only because of the increase in ice time but also because of the considerable excitement surrounding the team.
“This is right up my alley,” Reaves said. “It’s a big party out here. The fans have been like this since I’ve been here. That’s not even a playoff crowd. That’s just Vegas crowds. It’s unbelievable. It’s crazy to see a hockey team can have this much fun.”
Reaves enjoyed a career year in St. Louis in 2016-17, contributing seven goals and 13 points while playing on effective fourth line with Kyle Brodziak and Scottie Upshall.
In discussing his lack of fit with the Penguins, Reaves said how he is used now, with Vegas, is similar to what he experienced with the Blues.
“[Gallant] trusts us,” Reaves said. “We were getting some shifts against Wheeler, a couple against Laine. He doesn’t call us off the ice. He lets us play. I think he trusts us. It’s a little more similar to what I was doing in St. Louis.”
At the end of the Golden Knights win, tempers flared. Reaves apparently took a punch to the right eye, which caused it to swell.
It’s a rare look for a player recognized around the league as one of the NHL’s toughest, and, perhaps, its best fighter.
“Usually, I don’t get them from a fight,” Reaves said of the black-and-blue mark. “Sucker punches, yeah.”
Given what he is experiencing now, it’s doubtful Reaves will complain too much.
“I think our line has played well the last three or four games,” Reaves said. “I’m feeling good. Just trying to play my game.”