The Vegas Golden Knights suffered their second straight loss at home on Saturday night after yet another third-period collapse.
Jonathan Marchessault scored the opening goal for the third consecutive game and gave the Golden Knights an early 1-0 lead, but they failed to score on their next 26 shots on net.
Meanwhile, the Carolina Hurricanes — led by Spencer Martin’s 29 saves (.967 SV%) — scored three unanswered goals, including two in the third period.
Andrei Svechnikov tied the game less than two minutes after the first intermission. Seth Jarvis gave Carolina the lead with a shorthanded goal 19 seconds into the third period, while Stefan Noesen buried the dagger six minutes later.
Svechnikov and Noesen scored their 12th goals of the season, while Jarvis netted his 18th.
Marchy starting things off right ???? pic.twitter.com/sSZ3jkk3ip
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) February 18, 2024
Marchessault’s goal — his 28th of the year — came off a rebound following a 2-on-1 that featured Nicolas Roy and Ivan Barbashev. He has scored 11 goals in as many games, and extends his point streak to five games.
Barbashev (19 assists) and Roy (20 assists, eight-game point streak) were credited with the helpers. And speaking of point streaks, the March-Barb-Roy line has at least one point in 11 straight games.
Unfortunately, captain Mark Stone’s 11-game home streak (tied for franchise record) came to an end. Former Misfit Reilly Smith had an 11-game home point streak in 2018-19.
Cheers to 800 games, Marty!!! Legend. ???????????? pic.twitter.com/aavrjbPLzg
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) February 18, 2024
Despite the loss, Alec Martinez suited up for his 800th career game — just a few days after teammate Alex Pietrangelo skated in his 1,000th.
“Three Stanley Cups and always played the game the right way,” Pietrangelo said after the game. “He’d be well over a thousand if not for some unfortunate injuries. But you talk about what you want in a teammate and friend and you’ve got it in Marty.”
Golden Knights Continue to Struggle on the Power Play
Vegas went 0 for 2 on the power play and are now 2 for 21 in their past nine games (5-3-1 in that span). And, while Vegas didn’t give up any penalties, they gave up a shorthanded goal — which made all the difference in this one.
“That stung,” head coach Bruce Cassidy said, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “Especially because our power has not been producing for us.”
They’ve struggled in that area all season long and currently rank 20th in the NHL in power-play percentage.
“First power play had some good looks around the front of the net, and we didn’t convert. The second one, opportunity to take a lead, and it goes the other way,” Cassidy added. “That one was the turning point in the game for me.”
???? Head Coach Bruce Cassidy after Saturday's 3-1 loss to Carolina pic.twitter.com/S6Gt1ok4GF
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) February 18, 2024
The power play will likely improve once Shea Theodore returns to the lineup — sometime this week. But will it be enough for a Golden Knights team that’s scoring on less than 20% of their power-play opportunities? Time will tell.
“We don’t do a good job at the blue line trying to keep a puck alive, and then it’s kind of a one-on-three, and I don’t feel that puck should have ever gotten in the net,” said Cassidy. “That’s one we need a stop on. We didn’t get it.”
What’s Next?
Vegas has now lost two games in a row, falling to 31-17-6 (68 points) on the year.
They play the San Jose Sharks (15-34-5) on Monday (Feb. 19) at 1 pm.
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes improved to 32-17-5 (69 points) and have now swept the two-game season series for the second time in the past three years.
They play the Chicago Blackhawks (15-37-3) on Monday (Feb. 19) at 4 pm.
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