By Henry Nery
EBC Las Vegas Bureau
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — On just the second day of the new year and hockey season nearing the halfway mark, hockey fans gathered in T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to root for their favorite teams as the Philadelphia Flyers (22-13-5, 49 points) took on the Vegas Golden Knights (22-15-6, 50 points).
On a six-game road trip, the Flyers came into Nevada from California losing three games to the San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, and Los Angeles Kings. In contrast, the Vegas Golden Knights were gearing up to play their third of seven straight home games, going 2-0 with victories over the Arizona Coyotes and Anaheim Ducks.
Both teams are in good position for the playoffs, however, with still half the season to go nothing is guaranteed.
In their first meeting earlier this season, the Flyers easily handled the Golden Knights in Philadelphia, defeating them 6-1.
In this game, the first period featured six goals between the teams. Vegas Golden Knight forward Max Pacioretty scored two of the four VGK goals. Flyers forwards, Claude Giroux and Travis Konecny, scored two goals for Philadelphia. Golden Knights defensemen Shea Theodore added to the point total and forward Jon Merrill scored his first goal of the season. At the end of one period, the Vegas Golden Knights led the Philadelphia Flyers by a score of 4-2.
Second period action saw timely saves by both goaltenders, Carter Hart of the Flyers and Marc-Andre Fleury of the Golden Knights, as both gave up only one goal each. Goals by Vegas Golden Knight forward Cody Glass and Philadelphia Flyer Sean Couturier were scored. After two periods of play, the Golden Knights were still leading the Flyers, 5-3.
Just 15 seconds into the third period, the Flyers made it interesting with Couturier scoring his second goal of the game on a power play goal for Philadelphia and bringing the score to only a one-goal deficit .
The Golden Knights still led the Flyers with a score of 5-4.
Back and forth action ensued through most of the period with more outstanding saves made by the goaltenders. With less than three minutes to play, the Philadelphia Flyers went on the power play again as Vegas Golden Knight Reilly Smith hurled the puck into the crowd for a delay of game penalty giving the Flyers a two-minute power play. During this same power play, another penalty was called on the Golden Knights’ Deryk Engelland.
With two Golden Knights players in the box, the Flyers pulled their goaltender for a 6-on-3 advantage. It almost was an inevitability that the Flyers would score. However, the Vegas Golden Knights prevailed and kept the puck out of their net for the final 90 seconds of play to seal the victory.
“It was a team effort,” Vegas Golden Knights goalie Fleury said in the locker room after the game.
The Vegas Golden Knights are now 3-0 on their home stand and continue to lead the Pacific Division with 23 wins and 52 points. They play host to the defending NHL champions, St. Louis Blues, on Saturday afternoon. The Philadelphia Flyers remain winless on their current road trip and continue on the road at the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday evening.
(Eagle News Service)