3 Takeaways From Golden Knights’ 4-2 Game 5 Loss

The Vegas Golden Knights dropped Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Thursday night to go down 3-2 in the series.

Pavel Dorofeyev scored both goals for Vegas while Carter Hart made 20 saves on 24 shots. On the other side, Jordan Staal, Andrei Svechnikov, and Sebastian Aho scored for Carolina, and Brandon Bussi made 23 saves on 25 shots.

For the first time since Games 2 and 3 of Round 1, the Golden Knights have lost two games in a row and, consequently, are on the brink of elimination for the first time this postseason. This time, there’s no elimination. This is it, and the Golden Knights will need a big win on Sunday to keep their hopes alive.

Penalty Kill Trouble at the Wrong Time for Vegas

Heading into the series, both teams were riding a hot penalty kill, but Carolina’s inability to score with the man advantage gave Vegas the edge in the special teams department. The Golden Knights were at 87.5%, and the Hurricanes were at 92.5%. On the power play, the Golden Knights were at 23.9% and the Hurricanes at 12.5%.

Well, since the Final started on June 2, those numbers have been flipped on their head. Through five games, the Golden Knights are 13.3% on the power play and 62.5% on the penalty kill, while the Hurricanes are at 37.5% and 86.7%, respectively. Whatever edge the Golden Knights had going in has been completely erased.

On Thursday, the problem wasn’t just taking penalties; it was taking penalties at the wrong time. Granted, there’s never a good time in the playoffs, let alone in the Stanley Cup Final, but on Thursday, it bit them.

With the game tied 1-1 in the second period, defenseman Jeremy Lauzon took a roughing penalty, and Brayden McNabb took a minor for cross-checking immediately after. It was on McNabb’s penalty that Svechnikov scored his first of two power-play goals on the night.

Then, down 3-1 in the third, penalty trouble reared its ugly head once again. Jack Eichel took a tripping penalty at 3:23, and Mark Stone received a double minor for high-sticking just five minutes later. It was on Stone’s penalty that Svechnikov struck again.

“It can definitely get challenging and tire guys out, but we’ve still got a job to do there,” Nic Dowd said of the Golden Knights’ penalty troubles. “The game is still 1-1, even 2-1 it’s still quite within reach.”

Game 1 went according to plan, going 2-for-2 on the penalty kill. Since then, they’ve allowed a power-play goal in every game, and have taken four penalties in each of the last two games.

“I mean, yeah, you want to be disciplined,” McNabb said. “We’re going to play hard, but yeah, that’s it.”

“I thought we were doing some good things, still getting chances, obviously,” Eichel said. “They scored, so yeah, I mean, they were able to get some momentum off of it, and you know, special teams is a big part of the game, and this time of year you got to be on the right side of it. Unfortunately, we weren’t.”

Carter Hart’s Struggles Continue

Much like the special teams, the play of Carter Hart had been strong all postseason, but has been fading at the wrong time.

At the start of the series, Hart was 12-4 and had a .924 save percentage (SV%) and a 2.22 goals-against average (GAA) through the first three rounds, but has since seen those numbers drop dramatically. Against the Hurricanes, Hart has an .856 SV% and a 3.70 GAA, and is the first goalie in Final history to allow four goals in each of the first five games.

Post-game, head coach John Tortorella was asked if he is considering a goalie change heading into Game 6.

“That could be the stupidest question I’ve heard,” coach Tortorella responded.

I mean, is it?

For the record, I am also of the mind that you leave Hart in; he is, after all, a massive reason why you’re here in the first place, and Adin Hill hasn’t played in over two months. But is it the stupidest idea ever? I’m not so sure.

It’s Win or Go Home for Vegas

So, down 3-2, it’s all about Sunday’s Game 6 back in Vegas. Win, and you force a Game 7 for all the marbles. Lose, and your season ends just like that.

“We’ll be back here,” Tortorella promised after Game 5. “I’m going to leave my clothes here, that’s for sure. In the hotel.”

In my opinion, the Golden Knights have all of the ingredients to win Game 6 and extend the Stanley Cup Final to its limits. All postseason, they have been evolving into a team that rises to the occasion when the moments are the biggest, and there’s no bigger moment than this one. At least so far.

The concerning part is that what has made Vegas a juggernaut all spring has been drying up at the wrong time. They haven’t been getting the big save, the depth scoring, or the big penalty kill, while the Hurricanes have been going the other way.

However, one thing we know through five games is that momentum means nothing. These two teams have been going punch for punch game after game, and it would fit the script for the Golden Knights to be back in Carolina on Wednesday.