Tomas Hertl registered a hat trick, but it wasn’t enough as the Vegas Golden Knights lost to the Los Angeles Kings 6-5 at T-Mobile Arena on Sunday.
Nicolas Roy and Brandon Saad also scored for the Golden Knights (38-19-6). Adin Hill made 29 saves.
The Kings won the season series 3-1 by winning the last three meetings.
“We never quit, even when it wasn’t looking good,” Hertl said. “We came back. We put the puck behind them, hold the puck, and make some plays. In the first, we just didn’t skate, held it too much, lost it in the neutral zone, and gave them easy entries. In the second, it was a way different hockey team, and obviously, to come pretty close, it was a good fight. But it sucks to lose them three times in a row.”
Hertl’s Hat Trick
Hertl completed his seventh career hat trick at the 17:48 mark of the third period. They all came from his position near the net front.
Hertl won a puck battle from below the goal line and sniped one past David Rittich in the second period. The next two goals came on similar plays when Mark Stone found Hertl in the low slot to score – both when the Golden Knights had an extra attacker (one on the power play and one with Hill on the bench).
“Power play has been working all season long. ‘Stoney’ makes a great play and and I try get that front to open up,” Hertl said. “We try switch it up a little things because sometimes teams really try cover me, so we play something else. But ‘Stoney’ makes a great pass and I just try get the front of the D-man and fight it for the puck because I’ve been there almost my whole life and I know goals are there.”
Hertl’s emergence has been a great sign for the Golden Knights, who acquired the forward at the trade deadline last season. He has a team-leading 27 goals and is more comfortable in the system.
“He found his way here,” Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Now he’s comfortable, and he’s good in that net front spot, so power play’s been good from Day 1. His 5-on-5 play is much improved simply because he’s just a product of being in our system.
Golden Knights Sluggish Start
The Golden Knights gave up the game’s first three goals, forcing them to chase the game against a solid defensive team.
After Nicolas Hague fought Samuel Helenius, it provided the spark Vegas needed to get back into the game.
“Obviously our start wasn’t great,” Hertl said. “We weren’t ready. We fell asleep, and L.A. jumped on us. They kind of dominated first. Hager fought for us and gave us the energy.”
The Golden Knights scored the next two goals, but Warren Foegele’s goal on the rush took the wind out of the Golden Knights’ sails.
Despite it, Vegas fought back. It got within one with 2:12 to play. The Golden Knights had a few good looks, but ultimately ran out of time.
‘It’s not who we are’
Cassidy said he didn’t see the poor play coming.
He called out the puck management, the giveaways, and just overall how his team started the game.
Cassidy expects the team will correct these miscues on the upcoming road trip.
“Tonight, I just think for whatever reason, we were not attentive to detail when the puck wasn’t there,” Cassidy said. “So that’s something that I believe will be better Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, just because we’re better than that. … Hopefully, we take it to heart. It can be a humbling game. Didn’t see this one coming. But it’s not who we are.”
