Golden Knights report: Shea Theodore leads way to first place

2 years ago 375

Golden Knights astatine Islanders

Knights triumph 4-3 (SO)

RJ’s 3 stars

3. Knights goaltender Robin Lehner — He made 29 saves successful his instrumentality to Long Island. He besides improved to 2-0 successful shootouts this play by stopping some attempts helium faced.

2. Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo — He had a game-high six shots connected extremity and played 29:50, his second-highest full of the season. He besides had an assistance to springiness him 8 points his past 7 games.

1. Knights defenseman Shea Theodore — He had his archetypal two-goal crippled since Jan. 20. He besides scored his archetypal power-play extremity since March 1, 2020.

Key play

Theodore’s 2nd goal.

His archetypal gave the Knights a 2-1 pb 5:46 into the 3rd period, but past the Islanders scored doubly to spell up 3-2. Lehner had to spell to the seat to support the hopes of a cleanable 4-0 roadworthy travel alive.

Pietrangelo acceptable up near helping Pacioretty up for a one-timer successful the last infinitesimal and recovered the puck himself erstwhile it came backmost astir the boards. He came disconnected the bluish line, faked a one-timer himself and past passed the puck to Theodore successful the mediate of the violative zone.

Theodore’s one-timed blast bushed goaltender Ilya Sorokin glove-side and tied the crippled with 48 seconds remaining. It was the Knights’ 3rd 6-on-5 extremity of the season, tied for the seventh-most successful the NHL.

Key stat

.645 — The Knights’ constituent percent aft Sunday’s triumph improved their grounds to 20-11-0.

That’s archetypal successful the Pacific Division up of Calgary (.643). Their 40 points are tied for the astir successful the Pacific with Anaheim. It’s the archetypal clip the Knights apical the standings since starting 1-0-0 with an opening-night triumph against Seattle.

Tuch acceptable to go

Former Knight Alex Tuch volition marque his Buffalo Sabres debut Monday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, manager Don Granato said.

Tuch has yet to play this play aft having enarthrosis country successful the summer. He was traded to Buffalo arsenic portion of the Jack Eichel woody successful November. Tuch grew up successful Syracuse, New York cheering for the Sabres.

“He’s acceptable to go,” Granato said. “He’s arsenic excited arsenic anybody I’ve ever seen to play a game, due to the fact that it’s here. Because he’s putting that jersey on.”

Tuch played 4 seasons with the Knights aft being acquired successful an expansion-draft commercialized with Minnesota. The 25-year-old had 139 points successful 249 games.

Knights’ adjacent 10

Vs. Tampa Bay, 7 p.m. Tuesday

Vs. Los Angeles, 7 p.m. Thursday

Vs. Colorado, 7 p.m. Dec. 27

At Los Angeles, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 28

Vs. Ducks, noon Dec. 31

Vs. Jets, 1 p.m. Jan. 2

Vs. Predators, 7 p.m. Jan. 4

Vs. Rangers, 7 p.m. Jan. 6

Vs. Blackhawks, 7 p.m. Jan. 8

Vs. Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. Jan. 11

Contact Ben Gotz astatine bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz connected Twitter.