3 Takeaways: Golden Knights Clinch Seventh Playoff Berth In Eight Years, Despite 3-2 Loss To Edmonton
LAS VEGAS -- The Golden Knights returned home from a successful road trip only to have their six-game win streak brought to an abrupt halt with a 3-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
Despite the loss, though, Vegas is in the playoffs for the seventh time in its eight seasons in the NHL, as it qualified when the Utah Hockey Club defeated the Calgary Flames 3-1 to clinch for the Knights before the Oilers game was decided.
"Three years in a row, that's the objective here, I think," said Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy, whose led the Knights to the postseason in all three years he's been in Vegas. "This team is, to me, a playoff team that should be in the playoffs. We're going to be happy we're in, but that's not our ultimate goal, nor should it be. Especially a night like tonight, we'd rather have done it with a win."
Pavel Dorofeyev had a goal and an assist, while center Nicolas Roy also scored for the Knights, who suffered their first loss since March 16. Goaltender Adin Hill made 17 saves.
Here are three takeaways from the game:
700 FOR STONE: Captain Mark Stone appeared in his 700th game Tuesday night, in what was also his 334th regular-season game as a member of the Golden Knights. Stone, who was acquired from the Ottawa Senators in February 2019, has played in 409 games overall and ranks second on the team with 246 assists in both the regular season and the playoffs since arriving. His 140 goals and 386 points rank No. 1 overall among current members of the team.
SECOND PERIOD BLUES: The Golden Knights have dominated their competition in the first and third periods, outscoring teams by a combined score of 175-118. Their 73 goals in the first period rank fifth in the NHL, while they've allowed only 57 in the opening stanza. The margin is even greater in the third, with a 102-61 edge. Their 102 goals rank first in the league. After being outscored by the Oilers in the second period, 3-0, the Knights have just a 74-72 edge in the middle set. They rank 14th with their 74 goals. If the playoffs started Wednesday, the Knights would face a tough challenge in the St. Louis Blues, who are outscoring teams 75-57 in the second period.
NOW WHAT: Though the Golden Knights have clinched a playoff berth, they're not out of the wild-card woods just yet. Vegas (98) is five points ahead of the Los Angeles Kings (93) and seven in front of the Edmonton Oilers (91). Sitting in first and second of the Western Conference Wild Card standings are the Blues and Minnesota Wild, both from the Central Division. The Knights aren't in jeopardy of slipping out of the Pacific Division's top three, but could fall into second- or third-place with a late-season collapse. By doing so, they would face either the Kings or Oilers in the first round, rather than the Blues or Wild. The Knights have eight games remaining, including five on the road. They'll need to shake off Tuesday's loss and get back to winning if they want to wrap up their fifth Pacific Division title.
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