The Vegas Golden Knights earned their third shutout win of the season with a dominant 3-0 victory over the Calgary Flames at T-Mobile Arena. This shutout came just two months after a 5-0 win over Calgary on October 28, and it extended their current win streak to six games. The team’s goaltender, Ilya Samsonov, was instrumental in the victory, stopping all 31 shots he faced, marking his first shutout with the Golden Knights. His performance, along with solid team defense and excellent special teams, played a significant role in securing the team’s 25th win of the season.
Despite facing some adversity early on, including a two-man disadvantage late in the first period, the Golden Knights managed to keep the game scoreless. Their penalty kill, which has become one of their strengths after being a weak spot earlier in the season, was crucial in holding off Calgary. The team killed off all penalties, including a delay-of-game minor in the second period, and entered the second intermission still in a scoreless tie. This resilience helped maintain a tight, competitive game.
The Golden Knights broke the deadlock late in the second period, with Brett Howden scoring the game-winning goal. Howden deflected a shot from Alex Pietrangelo, finishing off a fast, well-executed passing play. Initially credited to Pietrangelo, the goal was later given to Howden, marking his 15th of the season and tying him for the team lead in goals with Ivan Barbashev. This goal came at a crucial moment, giving Vegas a one-goal lead heading into the final period.
In the third period, Vegas capitalized on their power play opportunities. After several unsuccessful attempts earlier in the game, the Golden Knights broke through with a power-play goal from Victor Olofsson, who scored his eighth goal of the season on a one-timer. The goal, which came midway through the third period, provided the team with a 2-0 lead. Tanner Pearson sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the final seconds, adding his second point of the game after assisting on Howden’s earlier marker.
The Golden Knights’ strong overall performance in this game highlighted their growing depth and ability to manage close contests. With a 15-3-0 record on home ice and 44 out of 52 points earned against Western Conference teams, the Golden Knights are firmly positioned at the top of the standings with 53 points (25-8-3). The team’s success has been built on solid goaltending, a strong penalty kill, and timely power-play goals. As they head into their final game of 2024 against the Montreal Canadiens, Vegas looks to maintain their momentum and continue their impressive season.
