Stanley Cup Semifinals
Montreal Canadiens v. Vegas Golden Knights
Game 1
Montreal Canadiens Lineup:
Vegas Golden Knights Lineup:
Game Notes:
In the first period, action is quick and fast as there are multiple battles for puck possession in the first 90 seconds of play. A few great shots at both ends of the ice make for the first 90 seconds and things slow down a bit as both teams get a feel for the pace of the contest. Montreal goes on the power play when Jonathan Marchessault is called for hi-sticking at 2:38. Montreal’s Alex Romanov lays out Vegas’ Shea Theodore with a beautiful open ice hit, much to the dismay of Vegas fans who want the penalty to be called. Down at the other end of the ice, Montreal gets a shot off to the net with Marc-Andre Fleury making the save and a scrum happens at the crease. The officials blow the whistle, blowing the play on the ice dead. At 9:15, Shea Theodore gets the scoring started with his first goal of the postseason to give the Golden Knights the 1-0 lead. A gritty second half of the period shows when there are scrums on the ice, several great scoring chances get off, and great plays all over the ice. At 18:20 in the period, Vegas goes on the power play when Montreal’s Phillip Danault is called for a hooking penalty. The first period comes to an end with the Golden Knights having the the 1-0 lead with a 20 second power play carrying over into the second period.
In the second period, Vegas goes to the 5-on-3 just seven seconds into the period when Montreal’s ben Chiarot is called for a Delay of Game for the puck going over the glass. With the Danault penalty ending with no goals being scored, the Chiarot penalty is the lone remaining. Montreal kills the penalties but Alec Martinez scores his third goal of the postseason to give the Golden Knights the 2-0 lead. Vegas goes on another power play when Montreal’s Joel Edmundson is whistled for slashing at 5:04. Vegas’ power play chance is then killed 16 seconds later when Shea Theodore is whistled for a tripping call. Both the 4-on-4 and the 16 second Canadiens power play go on without a goal being scored and it remains a 2-0 Vegas lead. At 11:40, Montreal goes back to the penalty kill when Brett Kulak is off to the box for a Tripping call. Montreal goes to the power play when Vegas’ William Carrier is off to the box for a roughing call at 11:46. Just 19 seconds into the power play, Montreal gets on the board when Cole Caufield scores his first NHL postseason goal. At 12:58 the after crisp passing and a shot gets blocked right off of the back of the boot on Brett Kulak’s skate and into the net to give Vegas the two goal lead back. Credit to the goal goes to Mattias Janmark, his fourth goal of the postseason. After a few more great chances by Vegas, Montreal’s Carey Price is able to make some fantastic saves and block the shots. The second period comes to a end as the Golden Knights are holding off the Canadiens and have the 3-1 lead.
In the third period, with the Golden Knights having a bit of the comfortable lead, they are looking to expand the lead. More shots are getting off but Carey Price is making the great blocks and stops. Montreal is also trying to get some pucks in the net but Marc-Andre Fleury is playing lights out and is also making great blocks and saves at the net. Nick Holden scores his second goal of the postseason to extend the Golden Knights to three at the 10:06 mark in the period. With 4:36 left in the contest, Carey Price is pulled from the Montreal net to bring on the extra attacker into the game. Vegas goes on to take Game 1 in this best of 7 series with the 4-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Game 2 is Wednesday night at 9p.
Scoring and Penalty Summaries:
1st Period
| VGK Penalty | Jonathan Marchessault | for | Hi-sticking | 2 min minor | 02:38 |
| VGK Goal | Shea Theodore (1) | Assisted by | Brayden McNabb (3) | Chandler Stephenson (6) | 09:15 |
| MTL Penalty | Phillip Danault | for | Hooking | 2 min minor | 18:20 |
2nd Period
| MTL Penalty | Ben Chiarot | for | Delay of Game-Puck over Glass | 2 min minor | 00:07 |
| VGK Goal | Alec Martinez (3) | Assisted by | Shea Theodore (7) | Reilly Smith (6) | 02:18 |
| MTL Penalty | Joel Edmundson | for | Slashing | 2 min minor | 05:04 |
| VGK Penalty | Shea Theodore | for | Tripping | 2 min minor | 05:20 |
| MTL Penalty | Brett Kulak | for | Tripping | 2 min minor | 08:20 |
| VGK Penalty | William Carrier | for | Roughing | 2 min minor | 11:46 |
| MTL PP Goal | Cole Caufield (1) | Assisted by | Tyler Toffoli (7) | Corey Perry (4) | 12:05 |
| VGK Goal | Mattias Janmark (4) | Assisted by | Alex Tuch (4) | Zach Whitecloud (3) | 12:58 |
3rd Period
| VGK Goal | Nick Holden (2) | Assisted by | Reilly Smith (7) | William Karlsson (8) | 10:06 |
Statistical Summary:
1st Period
| MTL | VGK | ||
| Faceoffs | 10/18 | 8/18 | |
| Power Plays | 0/1 | 0/1* | :20 seconds left in PP |
| Shots | 12 | 9 | |
| Hits | 21 | 23 |
2nd Period
| MTL | VGK | |
| Faceoffs | 20/36 | 16/36 |
| Power Plays | 1/3 | 0/4 |
| Shots | 17 | 21 |
| Hits | 39 | 30 |
3rd Period
| MTL | VGK | |
| Faceoffs | 29/52 | 23/52 |
| Power Plays | 1/3 | 0/4 |
| Shots | 29 | 30 |
| Hits | 52 | 44 |
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