Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 | 2 a.m.
The Golden Knights’ defense had a slow start to the season.
While guys like Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore are having no issue supporting the offense, the unit struggled to slow down its opposition, specifically on the road.
Before Wednesday’s game against Edmonton, the Golden Knights were outscored 18-11 on the road and had yet to win a game. Specifically, on the rush, the usually fast Golden Knights’ defensive corps gave their opponents countless scoring opportunities.
With Noah Hanifin seemingly finding his game against the Utah Hockey Club, recording a goal and two assists in the win, it looked like the Golden Knights were finally tapping into their defensive depth.
Vegas finally snapped its road skid, defeating the Oilers 4-2, and the winning effort was centered around the defense, which had one of its best showings of the season so far.
Hanifin had two goals, the unit did not commit a penalty and only one of the Oilers’ two goals could be faulted on the Golden Knights.
“For our guys, that’s what it takes on the road,” Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. “We’re not scoring as much as we have at home, so it’s not going to be as easy…We’ve got to stick with the program and we did that.”
Two crucial moments came in front of goalie Adin Hill. In the second period, a fortunate bounce off the boards found the stick of Zach Hyman out in front of Hill, and he’d score to put Edmonton up, 2-1.
It was a point where the Golden Knights could’ve folded and may have in October but didn’t. Early in the third period, Hill made a huge pad save on a one-time shot from Viktor Arvidsson, giving the Golden Knights needed momentum.
“We did get the big save going into the third period,” Cassidy said. “It’s one we needed and we stuck with.”
Hill’s 27-save performance aligned with the defense’s strong showing, as the two played off each other’s momentum. The defense also got in front of a handful of pucks, blocking 14 Oiler shots.
“I thought we had a really good defensive effort,” Hanifin said. “That’s how you win road games. It was good to get that one.”
Hanifin said one of the defense’s biggest adjustments in the third period was moving the puck up the ice quicker and matching Edmonton’s pace of play.
Facing two of the best players in the NHL, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Golden Knights “took it to them.” Edmonton’s star players did not record a point and were -1 on the ice. Vegas’ defense not only shut down Edmonton’s offensive threats but found confidence to create scoring chances of their own.
Complimenting Hanifin’s two goals, Theodore had an assist and Pietrangelo had three shots on goal.
“When you’ve got guys like McDavid and Draisaitl on the ice, they’re so dangerous offensively and you’re trying to be responsible, but if there’s a chance there to get up in the play and create something, you do it,” Hanifin said.
The Golden Knights stay on the road on Friday against the Seattle Kraken. Seattle is looking to get out of its own slump, as it’s lost four straight games and been outscored 15-4.