Rookie Kai Uchacz played well in his NHL debut and five different players scored for Vegas.
LAS VEGAS — When you’re struggling, nothing comes easy. Even when it appears it should be.
The worst team in hockey visited T-Mobile Arena Wednesday night and for most of it, the Vancouver Canucks lived up to their reputation. They may not be the most talented group to take to the ice, but they have a bit of moxie in them.
Enough so that the Vegas Golden Knights were going to have to do more than just show up if they intended to snap their five-game losing streak and get Bruce Cassidy’s critics off his back for one night.
And while the Knights didn’t look like Stanley Cup timber, they managed to get the lead, build on it and hold it to the end, which when you come right down to it, is all that matters as we head to the Olympic break in 24 hours.
So Vegas’ 5-2 win kept it in first place in the Pacific Division and if the Knights can turn one win into two Thursday when they host Los Angeles, they can enjoy the break knowing that despite a rash of injuries, they are still at the top of the standings in the division.
“It was good to start the third period on our toes and not give them any life,” Cassidy said.
Jack Eichel scored for the first time in six games. Kai Uchacz got called up from Henderson and made his NHL debut. Cole Reinhardt, who was with Uchazc and Braeden Bowman on what I called the “Town Crier Line” — all three started out in Henderson with the Silver Knights this season — scored shortly after Eichel in the second period as part of a four-goals-in-3 1/2 minutes span that saw Elias Pettersson and Ivan Barbashev trade goals in what was the most action delivered for the majority of the evening.
It was enough to make Akira Schmid a winner in goal as he heads off to Italy to represent Switzerland in the Olympics next week. He made an incredible second-period save on Pierre-Olivier Joseph midway through the second period, diving to his right and snagging Joseph’s shot with his glove to keep it 3-1.
“Big saves get everyone going, the bench gets excited, the guys on the ice,” Cassidy said of Schmid’s stop. “You need those timely saves.”
Schmid said of the save: “You hope you get a piece of it and that it doesn’t go in. I saw the replay and it wasn’t even close.”
But Joseph got his revenge with 8.8 seconds left in the period, beating Schmid from long range with a 55-footer that somehow eluded him and pulled the Canucks within 3-2 heading into the third.
But another brief offensive flurry that resulted in goals from Pavel Dorofeyev (his team-leading 25th) and Alexander Holtz in a 60-second span sealed a much-needed win for a Vegas team that has spent a lot of its losing streak chasing the game and expending a lot of energy looking to get back in it.
Such wasn’t the case Wednesday. The Knights played from in front from the second period on and were clearly the better team once they got their game in gear.
“I don’t think by any means it was our best game, but it was good to come out in the third and get a few and win the game,” Eichel said.
For Uchacz, his family was in the arena to witness his debut and like virtually every player run that situation, it’s a moment he’ll never forget.
“I think after the first shift, it felt like a regular game,” he said. “Having played with Bo (Bowman) and Rein (Reinhardt) definitely helped me relax. Those guys are hard workers so I was able to contribute.”
Cassidy had no problems with the rookie’s debut. Or the entire line for that matter.
“Kai played well and good for him,” he said. “I thought he did a good job. He tried to be physical. He competed hard in the circle. He’s done good work down in Henderson and it’s nice to see the organization reward guys who are playing well.”
Category: General Sports
