The Vegas Golden Knights haven’t done much right through two games of their series against Anaheim and finally paid the price in Game 2 with a 3-1 loss on Wednesday at T-Mobile Arena.
It could have been much uglier on the scoreboard had their penalty kill not continued a spectacular run.
“Outstanding,” coach John Tortorella said of the unit. “The penalty kill has been fantastic. That was a key part of the game. We just couldn’t make it stand.”
The Knights have allowed a goal on just one of the 25 power-play opportunities their opponents have had this postseason, including shutting down the past 19 straight.
Anaheim is 0-for-9 in this series.
“Their pressure is good,” Anaheim center Leo Carlsson said of the Knights’ kill. “Long sticks, big bodies. We have to look at the tape to get better (on the power play).”
The stat sheet says the Knights killed off all five power-play opportunities for the Ducks in Game 2, but that doesn’t tell the full story.
Anaheim drew an early high-sticking penalty on Tomas Hertl, and the Knights nearly had killed off the full two minutes when Mitch Marner was called for delay of game when the puck awkwardly rolled up his stick and over the glass in the defensive zone.
Jack Eichel, one of the Knights’ best penalty killers, was sent to the box for a high-sticking double minor 22 seconds later.
The Knights not only killed off 1:38 of 5-on-3 time — an effort largely led by Nic Dowd, Brayden McNabb and Rasmus Andersson — but then the ensuing two minutes on the Eichel penalty.
Somehow, the Knights had kept the game scoreless despite playing the vast majority of the first 10 minutes down either a skater or two.
“I think the guys did a hell of a job,” Knights center William Karlsson said. “We’re confident in that (part of our game).”
Once again, goaltender Carter Hart was a big contributor.
He stopped all six shots he saw against the power play, and a couple were of a high degree of difficulty.
Before the game, Tortorella had credited his play for a big part of the penalty kill’s success.
“The goaltender has made some really good saves,” he said after morning skate Wednesday. “You don’t have the penalty kill we have going right now without the goaltender making saves. I just think the whole group has really worked off one another very well.”
While that Herculean effort could have provided a spark for the Knights, there were instead residual effects.
The penalty killers spent too much time on the ice early in the game while those who aren’t usually on those units were held on the bench.
“You lose some guys in that first period, and it’s tough to get everyone into the game,” Knights captain Mark Stone said. “We got the kills when we needed them, but we just couldn’t get back on the saddle and get anything really cooking.”
That included failing to generate a shot on the kill, something the Knights have had success with doing this postseason.
Remarkably, they have scored twice short-handed, including an overtime game winner in the opening-round series against Utah.
So they have outscored their opponents when playing down a skater in the playoffs.
Not that the Knights are celebrating, particularly after dropping Game 2 at home for the second consecutive series. But their ability to kill off penalties provides some level of confidence moving forward when they do head to the box, which should allow them to stay aggressive.
Stone, however, said it’s still best if they don’t have to rely on that part of their game.
“We have to be more disciplined so we can roll over our lines and get everyone into the game so we can feel good about the game,” he said.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.
