West Notes: Lehner, Burakovsky, Iginla
One name oft forgotten in the Vegas Golden Knights goalie carousel this season is Robin Lehner, who spent the entire 2022-23 campaign on long-term injured reserve. After missing the tail end of the 2021-22 campaign with a significant shoulder injury, it was actually off-season hip surgery that kept Lehner out for the year.
The Swedish netminder remains one of the best around when healthy, but Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon today didn’t have any update on Lehner’s status moving forward. McCrimmon noted Lehner is still undergoing rehab on both of his hips, but didn’t have a recent update on his progress. Lehner’s absence hasn’t hindered the Golden Knights much this season, and he could be a trade candidate if he does get healthy to clear some cap space. The 2019 Vezina Trophy nominee is locked in at a $5MM cap hit through 2025, making him an affordable option for a team in need of a starting netminder.
- Seattle Kraken general manager Ron Francis offered some clarity today on the injury that kept star winger Andre Burakovsky out of the lineup down the stretch of the season. Per Francis, Burakovsky tore his groin on his first shift after the All-Star break and suffered multiple setbacks in his recovery, sidelining him for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs. The 28-year-old was having a spectacular first season in Seattle before the injury, scoring 39 points in 49 games in a top-six role.
- After selecting him in 12th overall in last week’s WHL Prospects Draft, the Edmonton Oil Kings have officially brought 14-year-old Joe Iginla, son of Calgary Flames legend Jarome Iginla, into the organization on a scholarship and development agreement. Iginla posted monster numbers at the U15 level this season with his dad coaching, scoring 65 points in 27 games, and even got some looks in U16 and U17 play. Iginla is not NHL draft eligible until 2026 and is not expected to join the Oil Kings until the 2024-25 season.
Laurent Brossoit Not Expected Back For Western Conference Final
Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy indicated today that goaltender Laurent Brossoit is unlikely to be available for their upcoming Western Conference Final series against the Dallas Stars. Brossoit has not played or practiced since sustaining a lower-body injury in Game 3 of their Second Round win against the Edmonton Oilers.
Brossoit had performed spectacularly down the stretch for Vegas, posting a 7-0-3 record and .927 save percentage in 10 starts after an early-season injury slipped him down the depth chart and earned him an extended stay in the minors for the first time in years. He carried that over into the postseason, and while his .894 save percentage in eight playoff starts isn’t exactly flattering, he did provide some needed big saves and played a key role in guiding Vegas to the NHL’s final four.
The team’s backup to start the season, Adin Hill, came in and finished the job in Brossoit’s absence, currently leading all playoff netminders with a .934 save percentage. In Game 6, he allowed Edmonton’s first two shots on goal but saved the next 38 en route to a series-clinching win. Even if Brossoit had been available to them, the team would’ve likely kept Hill in the starter’s crease.
One option that could become available, though, is Logan Thompson, who led all Vegas netminders this year with 36 starts and 21 wins. Thompson has missed much of the last three months with a lower-body injury that was aggravated in March, but Cassidy’s comments today alluded to the possibility of Thompson becoming an option during this series. He didn’t explicitly state Thompson had returned to practice, however.
Thompson did perform well in his first season as an NHL starter and could’ve outlasted Edmonton Oilers counterpart Stuart Skinner for a Calder Trophy nomination had he not faced injury issues down the stretch. If his regular-season performance with the Golden Knights during this season and last is any indication, he’s a better backup option at this point in time than veteran Jonathan Quick, who Vegas has dressed on the bench in Brossoit’s absence.
Latest On Laurent Brossoit
After helping the Vegas Golden Knights to a comfortable first-round series win over the Winnipeg Jets, the expectation was that Laurent Brossoit would be between the pipes for Vegas during their playoff run, their Stanley Cup hopes resting on his shoulders. Brossoit suffered a lower-body injury stopping an Edmonton Oilers scoring chance in Game Two of the second round, though, scuttling those plans. With Vegas now on the brink of qualifying once again for the Western Conference final, it does not seem as though Brossoit’s return is imminent.
As relayed by The Athletic’s Jesse Granger, Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy said that Brossoit wouldn’t be traveling with the team to Edmonton for Game Six. This has left Vegas in the hands of Adin Hill, who the team acquired from the San Jose Sharks over the summer in exchange for a fourth-round pick. While Hill is a capable goalie, one might presume that Vegas would feel more comfortable backstopped by the netminder who helped them win their series against Winnipeg. In any case, it’s looking as though Vegas will have to attempt to fend off Edmonton without Brossoit in their crease.
Golden Knights UFA Sakari Manninen Signs In Switzerland
A year ago, center Sakari Manninen was coming off an impressive season in the KHL plus a strong showing at the World Championship, helping him earn a one-year, one-way deal with Vegas with the hopes that he could push for some playing time with the Golden Knights this season. However, that didn’t happen and as a result, he’s heading back overseas as Geneve-Servette of the Swiss NLA announced that they’ve signed Manninen to a one-year deal.
The 31-year-old got a fairly long look with Vegas in the preseason, getting into four games before being one of their final cuts. The expectation was that he’d be back up once injuries arose but others got that opportunity instead. Manninen had a fairly successful season with the Silver Knights, picking up 40 points in 53 games to finish third on Henderson in scoring but somewhat surprisingly, he wasn’t among their list of ‘Black Ace’ recalls once the AHL campaign came to an end.
While Manninen could have waited for NHL free agency in July to see if another team might be interested in giving him an opportunity in North America, he’s instead opting to give the top division in Switzerland a try having already played in the top leagues in Finland, Sweden, and Russia. At his age and with him not getting into a game with Vegas this season, it seems unlikely that Manninen will find himself back on the NHL radar in the future.
Laurent Brossoit Remains Out
Ben Gotz of the Las Vegas Review-Journal gave some updates from the head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights, Bruce Cassidy, this afternoon, mentioning that injured goaltender Laurent Brossoit will remain out for Game Five. Brossoit has been out since the team’s victory in Game Three during their second-round matchup against the Edmonton Oilers.
Although averaging some very solid numbers in limited regular season games this year, Brossoit has left a lot to be desired for Vegas so far in this year’s playoffs. In eight games played, he does have a very good record at 5-2-0 but is also carrying a .894 SV% and a GAA of 3.18. Working out well for the Golden Knights up to this point, it is hard to imagine overall success as the team gets deeper into the playoffs with those numbers.
Picking up for Brossoit after leaving Game Three early was netminder Adin Hill. Playing for nearly the last 50 minutes of Game Three, Hill stopped 24 of 24 shots, helping his team take the lead in the series. Unfortunately in Game Four, Hill did not impress as much, giving up four goals on 33 shots. With veteran goaltender Jonathan Quick still at their disposal, the Golden Knights will surely be looking for more consistent goaltending as they look to take back the series lead against the Oilers in Game Five.
Alex Pietrangelo Suspended One Game
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo will be suspended for one game for his actions late in a Game 4 loss to the Edmonton Oilers according to a release from the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.
The incident happened late in Game 4, with the Golden Knights trailing 4-1 and their goaltender pulled for an extra attacker. Oilers star forward Leon Draisaitl was skating into the Golden Knights zone with the puck and back-handed it toward the yawning cage. He barely missed, but a few seconds after releasing the puck, Pietrangelo continued toward him and slashed him on the forearm.
It was not just a small slash on the wrist. It was a blatantly obvious attempt to injure an opponent with a two-handed swing akin to a lumberjack trying to split a block of wood into two pieces with a rusted hatchet. The puck was long gone, the play around Draisaitl was over, and for all Pietrangelo knew, the puck could have already been in the Golden Knights’ net.
Pietrangelo was assessed a five-minute major penalty for slashing and a game misconduct. The Department of Player Safety took a closer look at the incident today and held a hearing this morning with the Golden Knights defenseman. It was determined that a one-game ban was necessary for such a reckless and needless slash of an unsuspecting opponent.
The Golden Knights will now be without their top defender as they look to take a series lead in Game 5. The two teams have traded blowout victories in this series, with the teams now locked up at two wins apiece. No one played more minutes on the Golden Knights than Pietrangelo in Game 4, as he led the way with 23:54 so he will be sorely missed.
The Oilers will be without a top defender of their own as Darnell Nurse was also handed a one-game suspension for instigating a fight in the final five minutes of the contest. Nurse ranks first among Oilers defensemen in ice time in the playoffs, averaging 23:24 per game in the playoffs so far.
Both teams will have their defensive depth tested on Friday night when they face off in Game 5 in Vegas.
Alex Pietrangelo To Have Hearing With Department Of Player Safety
The Department of Player Safety has decided that some supplemental discipline is warranted after last night’s Vegas Golden Knights-Edmonton Oilers game. Alex Pietrangelo will have a hearing today regarding his slash on Leon Draisaitl.
Near the end of the game, as Draisaitl tried to extend Edmonton’s lead with a backhand shot on an empty net, Pietrangelo skated toward him and delivered a hard slash after the puck had already been released.
The Vegas defenseman was penalized for slashing and given a game misconduct, as the officials tried (and failed) to keep order on the ice. He’ll now likely face a suspension, as hearings generally result in at least a one-game ban.
However, Edmonton could be without their own impact defenseman, as Darnell Nurse‘s late instigator penalty does come with an automatic suspension. As Darren Dreger of TSN tweets, the league can decide to rescind the instigator or the automatic suspension. There has not yet been any indication from the DoPS on Nurse’s status.
Any discipline could have a significant effect in a heated series now tied at 2-2. The teams will battle again tomorrow night in Las Vegas.
Vegas Golden Knights Goalie Laurent Brossoit Injured
Laurent Brossoit, the starting goaltender for the Vegas Golden Knights has left tonight’s Game 3 with an injury according to a team release.
The Vegas Golden Knights entered Game 3 of their second round playoff series with the Edmonton Oilers looking to bounce back from a lopsided loss. The Oilers dominated Game 2, storming out to a 4-0 lead after the opening period, and extending that to 5-0 midway through the second period. Brossoit was chased from the game after allowing five goals, and left Game 3 early as well but this time it was due to injury.
Brossoit sprawled across the crease to stop a Connor McDavid shot halfway through the first period and then stayed down on the ice. He was helped off the ice and clearly could not walk down the tunnel behind the bench under his own power. He was helped by trainers dealing with something that was obviously causing pain.
The team announced before the start of the second period that Brossoit’s night is over. He is out with a lower-body injury and is not going to return to Game 3. Adin Hill, who came on in relief in Game 2 would take over in the crease. Jonathan Quick is in the building as the team’s number three goaltender and will dress and serve as Hill’s backup for the remainder of the contest.
The Golden Knights have battled goaltending woes all season long. Robin Lehner is supposed to be the number one guy but he missed the entire season with injury. Logan Thompson took over the starter’s role early in the season but he is also now out with injury. Brossoit leaving tonight’s game now gives them three netminders out with injuries at the most crucial time of the season.
The Golden Knights have not released any details on what the injury actually is, other than to say it is a lower-body ailment.
Golden Knights Notes: Stone, Theodore, McNabb
The Vegas Golden Knights appear to finally be getting healthy at exactly the right time as they begin their second round best of seven series against the Edmonton Oilers. Vegas announced today that forward Mark Stone would be in the lineup tonight after leaving practice yesterday in discomfort. Vegas fans held their collective breath for Stone, especially considering the Golden Knights captain had only returned to the Vegas lineup in game one of their first round series against the Winnipeg Jets.
Stone showed no ill effects of his injury as he was dominant against the Jets putting up three goals and eight points in just five games. He appeared to have returned to form in that series which was a pleasant surprise given the injuries he has dealt with over the past couple of seasons. Stone missed almost half of the regular season this year playing just 43 games. Despite missing 39 games Stone was still able to post 17 goals and 21 assists this season.
In other Vegas Golden Knights news:
- It appears defenseman Shea Theodore will be returning to the Vegas lineup. TSN is reporting that head coach Butch Cassidy said Theodore would be in the lineup for game one against the Oilers. The Langley native was sidelined with in illness for game five of the Golden Knights series against Winnipeg but appears to have gotten over whatever was ailing him. Theodore was strong in four games of the first round series as he posted three assists and six shots on goal.
- Brayden McNabb also appears to be drawing back into the Vegas lineup. McNabb also did not dress in the Golden Knights series clinching game five victory against Winnipeg as he was sidelined with an upper body injury. TSN is reporting that Cassidy included McNabb as one of the players who would be back in the lineup tonight for Vegas. McNabb was pointless in the first four games of the playoffs and missed just the one game. He dressed in all 82 regular season games this year putting up a single goal while adding 16 assists.
PHR Playoff Primer: Vegas Golden Knights vs Edmonton Oilers
With the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs now underway, PHR makes its first foray into playoff series analysis with our 2023 Playoff Primers. Where does each team stand in their series, and what storylines could dominate on and off the ice? We continue our Second Round coverage with the Pacific Division matchup between the Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers.
Not much separated the Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers in the regular season. Both teams battled to the very end to determine the winner of the Pacific Division, with Vegas finally emerging and finishing just two points ahead of their division rival.
Though they ended up at the top of the division, it was not an easy ride for either team this season. The Golden Knights had to overcome many significant injuries, including Robin Lehner, their starting goaltender, missing the entire season, Mark Stone, an exceptional two-way winger missing the second half of the season and top defenseman Shea Theodore missing significant time in the middle of the season with injury as well.
The Oilers didn’t have the same injury troubles, though Evander Kane missed half the season after having his wrist cut by a skate blade. Their adversity was more about past issues coming back to haunt them. Those issues were goaltending problems as Jack Campbell struggled all season after signing a five-year contract with a $5MM cap hit. The defense seemed to be a bit too offensive minded as well and were not able to shut things down well enough to be a serious Stanley Cup contender.
Regular Season Performance
Vegas: 51-22-9, 111 points, +43 goal differential
Florida: 50-23-9, 109 points, +65 goal differential
Head-To-Head
November 19, 2022: Edmonton 4, Vegas 3 (OT)
January 14, 2023: Edmonton 4, Vegas 3
March 25, 2023: Vegas 4, Edmonton 3 (OT)
March 28, 2023: Edmonton 7, Vegas 4
Edmonton takes season series 3-0-1
Team Storylines
The Oilers seemed to flip a switch at the trade deadline and put all those past defensive issues in the rearview mirror. There were two main reasons for this team finally looking like a sound defensive team as well as an elite offensive team instead of a one-dimensional squad that we have seen in the past.
First, they acquired Mattias Ekholm from the Nashville Predators at the trade deadline and he immediately became their best defensive defenseman as well as their top defender on the penalty kill. He eats up a ton of minutes and plays against the other teams best players while putting up points and ensuring the opposition stays off the scoresheet.
Secondly, the Oilers finally started to rely more on goaltender Stuart Skinner late in the season instead of Campbell. While Campbell’s contract would suggest he is their top guy, Skinner played extremely well down the stretch, starting 16 of the team’s final 21 games and posting a 2.43 GAA and a .920 SV%.
Skinner didn’t quite continue that performance in round one against the Los Angeles Kings as he posted a GAA near 3.50 as well as a .890 SV%. He is going to need to be closer to his regular season numbers if the Oilers want to advance to the Western Conference Final for the second consecutive season.
Also, the Oilers are an offensive juggernaut, but they leaned pretty heavily on just three players in their six game round one win. Connor McDavid has ten points, as did young defenseman Evan Bouchard and Leon Draisaitl led the team with 11 points. However, no one else on the team had more than four points in the opening round. That’s not horrible, especially since Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Kane, Klim Kostin and Ekholm all had four points, but having a forward other than Draisaitl and McDavid score a point-per-game pace would give the Oilers incredible scoring depth.
It won’t be easy to score at will against the Golden Knights who lost their opening game of the postseason but then eliminated the Winnipeg Jets with four straight victories. They may not have an elite scorer like McDavid or Draisaitl, but they have incredible scoring depth that allowed them to quickly dispose of the Jets.
Chandler Stephenson and Stone led the way with eight points each in five games while William Karlsson, Jack Eichel and Alex Pietrangelo all had five points in the series. Add in Reilly Smith, Jonathan Marchessault, Theodore and Ivan Barbashev and the Golden Knights have scorers up and down their lineup as well as on their blue line.
The Golden Knights will lean on Laurent Brossoit in goal, giving each team a starter with very little playoff experience. Brossoit was solid against his former team, the Jets, in round one posting a .915 SV% and being good enough to outduel Connor Hellebuyck in the other end.
Prediction
Both teams have some inexperience in goal, and the ability to score almost at will. The Oilers have the top end guys while the Golden Knights have plenty of scoring depth, but putting pucks in the net will not be an issue in this series.
It should be a long series, but the defensive depth on the Golden Knights blue line may be the determining factor. Having to face Theodore, Pietrangelo, Alec Martinez and Brayden McNabb will give the Oilers depth players little chance to score while limiting their top guns just enough to outlast them in a long, back and forth series. In the end, home ice advantage in that last game may prove to be the difference.
Prediction: Golden Knights win in seven games.