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jessegranger.bsky.social
Write about Goalies and the Golden Knights for The Athletic.
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Ilya Samsonov is the first goalie off the ice, starting tonight for Vegas. This is the only the second time he’s started back to back games this season.

A lot of shuffling going on with the Golden Knights lines: Saad—Eichel—Stone Dorofeyev—Hertl—Olofsson Barbashev—Howden—Kolesar Pearson—Roy—Lavoie Hague—Pietrangelo Hanifin—Whitecloud McNabb—Korczak

Here’s the Whalers-themed mask Pyotr Kochetkov will be wearing for throwback night tonight in Carolina (to Brass Bonanza, for your enjoyment). Painting and video by Sylabrush

10 players the Golden Knights could target at the trade deadline Which is only 9 days away On @theathletic.bsky.social ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/615...

Mark W. gets me

Predicting goalies for all 12 countries at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy On @theathletic.bsky.social ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/615...

Four straight goals for the Kings. 5-2 L.A.

Warren Foegele gives the Kings a 3-2 lead with 11:30 remaining. Vegas was really struggling to clear the zone, and it led to that chance. Foegele pulled the puck back across Samsonov and roofed it.

Trevor Moore ties it 2-2 with his second goal of the game. L.A. had a 2-on-1, and Moore sniped it high short side.

Kaedan Korczak had played only 1 game in the last 65 days prior to these two coming out of the break. He’s had assists in both games. Cool to see him taking advantage of this opportunity.

Mark Stone tips Hanifin’s shot underneath Kuemper to give Vegas a 2-1 lead late in the 2nd period.

I say it all the time. McNabb doesn’t score many, but when he does they’re beauties. What a shot off the post and in, against the flow of the play. 1-1

With how tight they’ve called this game I’m shocked that trip on Saad wasn’t called.

Darcy Kuemper with an absolute beauty of a pad save on Nic Roy. Roy skated all the way around the crease, but Kuemper got his left pad out just in time to keep it 1-0 Kings going into the intermission.

It has been all Kings early, and they finally get one by Samsonov with a deflection by Moore on the power play. 1-0 Kings Shots are 9-1

Bad luck there for Nic Hague, who batted the puck out of play during a stick battle. Kings with an early power play chance.

That’s brutal for Vítek Vaněček. He was so good tonight, 25 seconds away from a 33 save shutout against Winnipeg (2nd highest scoring team). He ends up with an OT loss. That sucks.

On today’s The Athletic Hockey podcast, I joined @mbultman.bsky.social and @marklazerus.bsky.social to talk about our favorite storylines over the rest of the NHL season. We discussed Connor Hellebuyck’s playoff reputation, and Logan Thompson’s breakout. t.co/TcPr6ToIgo

Connor Hellebuyck is -5,000 to win the Vezina on @BetMGM, and the next closest goalie is Thompson at +2,500. If he wins, it'll be his 3rd Vezina. Here's a list of all the goalies with 3 Vezinas since the criteria changed in 1981: Patrick Roy Martin Brodeur Dominik Hasek

Final- Vegas 3, Vancouver 1 That was a well goaltended game by both sides, and Vegas comes out of the break with a nice divisional win.

Tomas Hertl scores into the empty net to ice it. 3-1 Vegas

Absolute chaos in front of the Vegas net, but they eventually get the whistle. This hasn't been Hill's most technical game. He's moving a lot more than he typically does when he's at his best. But he has made a bunch of saves with his compete level, especially in the third.

Dorofeyev is called for hooking, and Vancouver gets a power play with 4:49 remaining.

Adin Hill with a series of spectacular saves to keep it 2-1. What a sequence.

Vancouver scored to tie it 2-2, but there's no way this goal is going to count. Blueger was legitimately laying on Adin Hill when the puck went in.

Vegas scores 18 seconds into the third on a rebound off the back wall that went right to Brandon Saad. He put it into the wide open net to make it 2-1.

Vegas and Vancouver are tied 1-1 after two periods. It's been all Golden Knights, who hold advantages in: Shot attempts: 45-34 Shots: 25-15 Scoring chances: 26-18 High danger chances: 10-4 Kevin Lankinen has been the difference for the Canucks.

Vegas finally beats Lankinen to tie it 1-1. Ivan Barbashev with a rebound on the doorstep. That's his first goal since Dec. 14.

Vancouver scores first with a goal by Jake Debrusk. Hill was swinging his stick at the puck as Sherwood skated behind the net, and as a result he was behind the play and couldn't get over for Debrusk's shot. 1-0 Canucks

Vegas got its offensive game going as this period went on (3 power plays helps), but Kevin Lankinen was excellent. 0-0 after 20 minutes in Vegas.

Kevin Lankinen with two excellent stops to keep it 0-0. First he stretched his right skate out to rob Dorofeyev's backdoor one-timer, then he gloved Olofsson's shot seconds later.

TWO too many men penalties, though.

I haven't posted much, because not much has happened. 10 minutes in. 5 total shots. 0 total goals.

Golden Knights pregame line rushes vs Vancouver: Barbashev—Eichel—Olofsson Dorofeyev—Hertl—Lavoie Saad—Howden—Stone Pearson—Roy—Kolesar Hague—Pietrangelo Hanifin—Whitecloud McNabb—Korczak Hill Samsonov

Adin Hill and Kevin Lankinen lead their teams into the ice for warm ups.

We’re back

Cassidy suggests they could give Eichel, Stone and Hanifin a rest at some point, but no clear plan for that right now. He did suggest it wouldn’t all be at once, due to salary cap and roster constraints, but they may get a short reset at some point.

Bruce Cassidy says both William Karlsson and Cole Schwindt are skating, which is a good sign. No update on Theodore beyond the “week to week” status.

Adin Hill is the first goalie off the ice, starting tonight for Vegas.

Golden Knights morning skate line rushes: Barbashev—Eichel—Olofsson Dorofeyev—Hertl—Lavoie Saad—Howden—Stone Pearson—Roy—Kolesar Hague—Pietrangelo Hanifin—Whitecloud McNabb—Korczak

Two thoughts on the 5 year extension for Kevin Lankinen in Vancouver: 1. This is awesome for Lankinen, who has played on 1 or 2 year deals his whole career, and earned this long term deal with excellent play this year.

Darn… What a game, though. What a tournament. What a moment for hockey.

Binnington has reached another level of locked in. He tracked that puck off a deflection and windmilled it with his glove.