LAS VEGAS—The Golden Knights offense had finally turned it around in the last week or so, scoring 12 goals in their previous three games after a cold streak of epic proportions.
Monday night, Jordan Binnington canceled all of that. The goalie notched an effort reminiscent of his 2019 playoff run, limiting the defending champion Knights to just one third period goal despite the Knights holding the advantage in shots and most other major statistical categories throughout this the entire game.
A silver lining for the Golden Knights in this performance is that their disappointing yield in Monday’s game wasn’t a symptom of the offensive lethargicness that plagued them for nearly all of November. They were simply shut down by a goalie who had their number. It happens in the NHL, and tonight VGK was the victim.
The Blues broke the lid on the scoring with just twenty seconds remaining in the opening period off an Alexey Toropchenko deflection into the net.
The second period was a scrappy defensive effort from both sides that exemplified what a potential playoff series between the two teams could look like. No goals were scored, but the Binnington masterclass continued and the Knights held their own as well.
The Knights lone goal came seven minutes into the third period, with Jack Eichel tying the team lead for goals with his 11th by converting on the power-play. The goal tied the game at 1, where it would remain until the overtime period.
Overtime was quick and rather painless. Pavel Buchnevich pushed it past Logan Thompson for the game-ending goal just 38 seconds in.
The Knights are slated for rematch with the Blues on Thursday night, this time in St. Louis. Puck drop at the Enterprise Center is slated for 6 p.m. PST.
