3 takeaways from Knights’ win: William Carrier saves the day
Left wing William Carrier pointed both his gloved fists at center Chandler Stephenson before the two wrapped themselves in an embrace.
The Knights were bottled up for most of Thursday’s game against the San Jose Sharks. The puck wasn’t bouncing their way. That is, until two of their players provided an electric moment for the announced crowd of 17,544 at T-Mobile Arena that put any concerns over a heartbreaking finish to bed.
Stephenson set up Carrier for a game-winning goal with 17.2 seconds remaining to give the Knights a 2-1 win against their rivals. It was the third-latest go-ahead goal in franchise history and gave the team its NHL-leading ninth-third period comeback win.
It was Carrier’s seventh game-winner, tied for third-most in the league. The veteran bottom-six grinder only had three game-winners in his career before this season.
“I score them when it’s clutch, so I’ll take that,” Carrier said.
It didn’t look like it would be Carrier or the Knights’ night for most of Thursday’s game.
They trailed 1-0 after two periods thanks to right wing Alexander Barabanov’s goal.
The Knights had opportunities to pull even or grab control. They just couldn’t take advantage.
The Knights received seven power-play opportunities for the third time ever but finished 0-for-7. The only other game the team finished 0-for-7 was Oct. 6, 2017, the first game in franchise history.
The Knights found a way to break through on their 27th shot. Left wing Paul Cotter scored on a 2-on-1 with right wing Jonathan Marchessault 6:22 into the third period.
The sides seemed destined for overtime after that. Goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen was brilliant for the Sharks, making 36 saves. Goaltender Adin Hill was nearly as good in the other net with 26.
Stephenson found a way to end things in regulation with a brilliant sequence. He won an offensive-zone faceoff, then recovered the rebound from a shot from defenseman Shea Theodore in the left circle.
He sent a sharp pass straight across to Carrier, who was left all alone at the edge of the crease. Carrier had nearly the entire net to shoot at for his 15th goal. It continued an incredible breakout season for the veteran, who didn’t reach double digits any of his first six seasons in the NHL.
“I kind of feel like I’m back in juniors this year,” Carrier said.
The late heroics gave the Knights their fourth straight win coming out of the All-Star break, and improved their all-time record against the Sharks to 20-2-4.
Here are three takeaways from the victory:
1. Hill’s game
Hill, who spent last season with the Sharks, improved to 6-2 against his former team.
His one mistake was failing to freeze defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic’s point shot from 62 feet away late in the second period. That left a juice rebound for Barabanov to grab with 2:56 remaining.
Hill was otherwise excellent in his third start in four games. He raised his save percentage to .930 in his past nine appearances. Hill also helped the Knights hold their opponents to two goals or fewer for the fourth straight game.
“(Hill) was great for us,” center Jack Eichel said. “On a night like that where we’re generating a lot of chances and feels like we have some opportunities but not finding the back of the net, it could have easily gone the other way. So big on (Hill) to come up with those big saves for us, timely ones.”
2. Cotter stays hot
Cotter’s third-period tally gave him the first three-game goal streak of his career and the first ever by a Knights rookie.
The 23-year-old has 11 goals in 37 games with the team, putting him on pace for 24 over the course of a full season. He’s impressed enough to earn time on the top line with Eichel and Marchessault.
Eichel assisted Cotter’s goal, pushing his point streak to three games.
3. Power-play struggles
The result shouldn’t obscure the fact that the Knights need to come up with answers on the man advantage.
They’re 1-for-28 in their past 12 games. The cold streak started after captain Mark Stone was injured Jan. 12 against the Florida Panthers.
The Knights had 16 shots on the power play Thursday and still couldn’t score.
“We did have probably three or four we were good on,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “The other three, we just obviously weren’t.”
Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz on Twitter.