The Vegas Golden Knights pulled off a come-from-behind victory in Calgary on Tuesday after scoring three goals in the final 1:13 to take home a 4-2 win.
The Calgary Flames hosted the Vegas Golden Knights at the Saddledome on Tuesday night. While Vegas has been a pleasant surprise this year, jockeying for first overall in the league with the Tampa Bay, Calgary has performed below expectations. They entered Tuesday outside of the playoff picture, and come out of the All-Star break on a four-game losing streak.
‘Reilly Smith of the Knights opened the scoring in the first period as the visitors took an early lead. It was Smith’s 13th goal of the year and it came on the man advantage.
VEGAS TAKES THE EARLY LEAD ON REILLY SMITH'S TIP DEFLECTION GOAL! pic.twitter.com/D0fznd5zoh
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) January 31, 2018
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This is not the prettiest special teams goal, but Vegas runs the play is run perfectly. William Karlsson works the puck along the right wing, dumping it up the board to teammate Jonathan Marchessault.
Marchessault then fires it on off the point, while multiple Vegas players move toward the slot, drawing the Calgary players with them. At points, Flames goaltender Mike Smith is looking at four players between himself and the puck. Smith then gets a piece of the blade on it for the easy goal.
Calgary actually controlled the puck for most of the evening, while newly minted All-Star Mike Smith gamely stopped 31 of the first 32 shots he faced. Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk both scored in the second period, and the Flames skated into the second intermission with a 2-1 lead.
Then Vegas exploded.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bemfx07FxQP/?hl=en
Minnesota Wild castoff Erika Haula starts things off by driving to the net for the tying goal. That would be dramatic enough, but the final 1:13 were absolutely bonkers.
10 seconds off the clock later, Vegas’ Jonathan Marchessault – one of the best bargains in hockey – absolutely snipes one on Smith’s glove side. The netminder is not thrilled, and Calgary surrenders another goal with the empty net.
Fleury’s big night in net
Marc-Andre Fleury’s first year outside of Pittsburgh has left something to be desired. His concussion issues were just the start of Vegas’ comic goaltending health issues. Word has it that Malcolm Subban is currently on the shelf due to a bizarre gardening accident.
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Following his third All-Star Game appearance this weekend, Fleury came out and made 31 of 33 possible saves tonight. He has yet to allow more than three goals in a start since he returned to action on December 12.