3 takeaways from Knights’ win: Defense dominates in win over Flames

Monday was the defense’s turn to shine.

The Knights beat the Calgary Flames 5-0 at T-Mobile Arena to win their seventh straight home game to start the season. It’s the longest home winning streak to begin a campaign in franchise history.

Right wing Keegan Kolesar had two goals and an assist in the win. Center Nicolas Roy added a goal and two assists for the Knights (7-2-1), who outscored opponents 24-8 during their homestand.

Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo and captain Mark Stone also scored, while goaltender Adin Hill made 16 saves for his first shutout of the season.

“Sometimes your team gets hot at certain times and we’re going through one of those,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “I’d love to keep up this pace, don’t get me wrong. Things are going in for us.”

Pietrangelo, who had eight assists his previous three games, scored his first goal of the season 6:39 into the first period to put the Knights up 1-0. It was his first goal since Feb. 29.

Stone doubled his team’s lead 3:30 into the second period, firing a one-timer off a feed from center Jack Eichel.

That turned out to be more than enough offense for the Knights.

Calgary dominated the first five minutes of the game. The Flames’ cycle game bothered the Knights at times. But the home team adjusted and cruised to victory.

The Knights outshot Calgary 30-10 the final two periods.

“It was our best (defensive performance) of the year,” Cassidy said. “We didn’t feel like we were in a lot of trouble.”

Kolesar scored his first goal 2:19 into the third off a pass from left wing Cole Schwindt, who was playing his first game against his former team. The Knights claimed Schwindt off waivers from the Flames on Oct. 7.

Schwindt finished with two assists for his first multipoint game in the NHL.

“I think it was definitely a special feeling, you know, one that I won’t forget,” Schwindt said.

Kolesar got his second goal with 6:01 remaining in the game, with Roy getting the primary assist. Kolesar returned the favor 15 seconds later by getting the primary assist on Roy’s goal.

“We feel pretty good and confident,” Roy said. “I think the whole game we played a lot of time in the offensive zone, and obviously we got rewarded in the third period.”

Roy’s goal wrapped up the Knights’ best performance of the season and an impressive stretch at home. They’ll look to earn their first road victory when they travel to face the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday.

Here are three takeaways from the win:

1. Holtz helper

Right wing Alexander Holtz got an assist on Pietrangelo’s goal to extend his point streak to a career-high four games.

Holtz, 22, got off to a slow start with no points his first six games. He now has one goal and three assists his last four.

One thing that’s given him a boost is having William Karlsson as his center the last two games. The Knights had an 18-10 edge in shot attempts at five-on-five with those two and left wing Tanner Pearson on the ice Monday.

2. Stars shine

Stone, who was named the NHL’s first star of the week Monday, kept the good times rolling against the Flames.

The league’s leading scorer picked up his fifth goal of the season and 18th point.

Eichel isn’t far behind his linemate. He got his 16th point of the season with his assist on Stone’s goal. It was also Eichel’s 100th assist in 174 games with the Knights. He became the second-fastest player in franchise history to reach that figure behind Stone, who did it in 151 games.

3. Defensive masterclass

The second period might have been the Knights’ most complete of the season.

Only three of the Flames’ 18 shot attempts were on target. They had two high-danger chances, but they didn’t come until the final two minutes. Calgary didn’t register a shot on goal until there was 2:07 left in the period.

The showing was much-needed for the Knights and Hill, who had give up at least three goals in each of his first five starts.

Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.