3 takeaways from Knights’ win: New top line keeps making plays
Mark Stone was trying to hide on the Golden Knights’ bench when coach Bruce Cassidy gave him a look.
Cassidy asked how his captain was feeling as he tried to decide whom the Knights would use in their shootout with the St. Louis Blues on Friday. Stone, who entered the game 4-for-16 in his career, said he was willing to do whatever the team needed.
“Didn’t sound like, ‘Yeah I got one in me coach,’” Cassidy said jokingly.
Cassidy went with him anyway. The Knights had been carried by Stone’s line with center Chandler Stephenson and left wing Michael Amadio all night. It seemed only fitting to give members of the trio one more opportunity.
The group delivered. Stephenson scored in the third round when a miss would’ve ended the game. Stone then beat goaltender Jordan Binnington blocker-side on the team’s next attempt to give the Knights a 5-4 win in front of an announced crowd of 18,125 at T-Mobile Arena.
He was mobbed by his teammates afterward as they entered the NHL’s three-day holiday break with two consecutive home victories.
“You take the points at this time of year,” Cassidy said. “Good for (Stephenson), good for (Stone) and Amadio to jump up there and complement those guys as well.”
The Knights needed that huge performance from their top line.
They entered the Blues game down two of their top four scorers after it was announced Friday morning that right wing Jonathan Marchessault is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. The Knights have already been without center Jack Eichel. Injured defensemen Shea Theodore and Zach Whitecloud have left a hole on the right side of their blue line as well.
Stephenson, Stone and Amadio stepped up to carry the team through that adversity even though they were only playing their second game together.
Stephenson had a goal and three assists for his fourth career four-point game. Amadio had a goal and two assists for his second-ever three-point game. Stone had a goal and an assist in addition to his shootout winner.
The trio’s contributions came at important times, as well.
Stephenson and Amadio set up defenseman Alex Pietrangelo’s goal 5:22 into the first period that put the Knights up 1-0. The Blues tied the game, but then Stone gave his team the lead back 4:29 into the second.
St. Louis responded with two straight goals. Amadio scored with 1:26 left before the second intermission to send the two teams into the third tied 3-3. Stephenson found Stone with a great backhand pass, and Stone got the Blues defense to think he was shooting before sliding the puck over to Amadio.
“Unbelievable,” Amadio said. “I didn’t think he saw me at first. Great play by him and great play by Stevie to get it to him.”
Right wing Noel Acciari gave the Blues the lead back with 9:15 remaining in regulation. It wasn’t clear whether the Knights, playing their 12th game this month, had enough energy to fight back.
Turns out, Stephenson did.
He scored a game-tying goal with 1:36 left in the third period with the Knights on the power play and goaltender Logan Thompson out of the net. His incredible effort all night pushed his point streak to a career-high seven games. Stephenson has three goals and 11 assists in that span. His 14 assists in December are tied for the NHL lead.
It was his shootout goal that set up Stone’s final heroics, however. The two and Amadio kept the Knights going throughout the game. They deserved to be the ones to deal an impressive win.
“It was nice to get some goals, get two wins before the break,” Stephenson “That’s something we always want to be dominant in is home ice and put teams on their heels.”
Here are three takeaways from the win:
1. Thompson’s shootout record
Thompson made three saves to improve to 3-0 in shootouts this season. His other two wins came against the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Boston Bruins.
The rookie improved to 28-for-33 (.848) in his career in shootouts. He’s seven attempts shy of qualifying for the NHL record book, but if he did, his save percentage would rank second all-time behind only Marc Denis (.854).
2. Pietrangelo stays strong
Pietrangelo’s goal was his first in 10 games against his former team, which he captained to a Stanley Cup championship in 2019.
It also kept up his recent hot streak. Pietrangelo has five points in four games since rejoining the Knights on Dec. 17. He missed the previous nine because his daughter Evelyn was seriously ill.
Pietrangelo has 26 points in 27 games on the season, tied for the 11th-most among NHL defensemen despite his leave of absence.
3. Home record
The Knights improved to 10-9 at T-Mobile Arena with the win.
They won for the third time in their last nine home games. They also scored more than two goals for the second time in that span.
“Getting two points going into the break is huge,” Stone said. “Especially at home, two straight wins. That can carry a little bit of momentum (for us).”
Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz on Twitter.
