VGK vs. Canucks

John Locher) / Associated Press

Vegas Golden Knights center Jonathan Marchessault (81) and Vancouver Canucks center Curtis Lazar (20) battle for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Las Vegas.

Neon was everywhere. Towels were waved. The sweaters really did glow in the dark.

All of those elements showed up Saturday night. The Golden Knights did not get the memo.

The Golden Knights gave up three power-play goals, the third time this year they gave up multiple in a game, en route to a 5-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday.

This night was the debut of the Golden Knights’ innovative glow-in-the-dark sweaters. The first of its kind in the NHL got its VIP treatment with a new video introduction and a medieval battle taking place at the Neon Museum.

Vegas players walked through a lowly-lit ultraviolet tunnel that showcased these sweaters. The diagonal Vegas crest glowed an ominous green, looking every bit as stellar as advertised.

For seven minutes, it looked like the Golden Knights were on their way to playing up to the standards set for these sweaters. Then, the glow-up went dull.

Vancouver scored two power-play goals in the first period from Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson to take a 2-0 lead into the second period.

Pettersson scored his second goal of the game, also on the power play, on the first shot of the man advantage at 11:33 of the second. Andrei Kuzmenko scored just under two minutes later for Vancouver’s first even-strength goal to make it 4-0.

With the final seconds ticking down in the second, Nils Hoglander forced a turnover from Phil Kessel along the wall, found teammate JT Miller alone in front of the net, and he passed the puck off to Canucks captain Bo Horvat with 0.1 seconds left for the 5-0 advantage.

The Golden Knights (16-6-1) allowed four goals in a game for the sixth time in their last nine games. Vegas lost 4-2 to the Seattle Kraken on Friday.

The only spirited action the Golden Knights put together on Saturday was in the physicality department. Jonathan Marchessault fought Canucks forward Conor Garland, his third tilt in the NHL, followed by Keegan Kolesar fighting Vancouver’s Dakota Joshua in the third period.

Marchessault scored the Golden Knights’ lone goal with 3:16 remaining to prevent the Vancouver shutout.

Since their nine-game winning streak that launched them to the top of the league standings, the Golden Knights dropped to 3-4-1 in their last eight. All four losses in regulation have come at home.

For retro sweaters that paid homage to Las Vegas in 1995, the 6-year-old hockey team was non-existent.

The Golden Knights will begin a four-game road trip starting in Columbus on Monday.

This is a developing story. Check back later for updates.





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