3 takeaways from Knights’ win: Goalie’s 1st shutout caps strong December
Ilya Samsonov didn’t end November the way he wanted. But he’s been lights out in December, as have his teammates.
The Golden Knights’ goaltender capped off his 2024 with a bang, making 31 saves for his first shutout of the season in a 3-0 win over the Calgary Flames on Sunday at T-Mobile Arena.
“It was nice to get the two points,” Samsonov said. “We just continue to work every day.”
Samsonov, 27, has had an up-and-down start to his tenure with the Knights.
He went 5-3-1 his first nine starts, finishing off that stretch by allowing six goals in a 6-0 loss to the Utah Hockey Club on Nov. 30.
Samsonov, who signed a one-year, $1.8 million deal with the Knights on July 1, then flipped a switch in December. He’s allowed just five goals in four starts this month, going 4-0 with a .948 save percentage and 1.25 goals-against average.
His play is just part of a Knights machine that’s clicking on all cylinders. The team extended its winning streak to six games Sunday and improved to 10-1 in December.
Center Brett Howden scored his 15th goal with 4:01 to play in the second period and right wing Victor Olofsson added a power-play goal with 5:19 left in the third. Left wing Tanner Pearson added an empty-net goal with seven seconds left for his 300th NHL point.
The Knights (25-8-3) stayed atop the NHL standings with the win. They’re tied with the Winnipeg Jets for the most points in the league with 53 but have played one fewer game.
“(We’re) finishing the year on a good note here,” Pearson said. “Game’s in a good spot. Just need to keep going.”
The shutout was the 14th of Samsonov’s NHL career and first since March 30 last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
He had to earn it in the first period.
The Knights were short-handed the final 4:03 of the opening frame and the first 50 seconds of the second thanks to a tripping call on center Tanner Laczynski and a high sticking double minor on Howden.
Samsonov stopped all five shots he faced on the penalty kill. The Knights skaters also helped him out by blocking five shots.
“That was huge. You don’t like being on that side of it,” Howden said. “I thought they did a great job keeping them to the outside and not allowing much, and Sammy made the saves he needed to.”
The Knights were rewarded in the second when Howden tipped a slot shot from defenseman Alex Pietrangelo. Olofsson later gave the team some breathing room with a one-timer from the right circle.
“I just want to say thank you for our team,” Samsonov said. “The guys blocked a lot of shots. We played a simple game. Simple game is less mistakes.”
Here are three takeaways from the win:
1. Elite penalty kill
The Knights’ hot streak in December is thanks in large part to their penalty kill.
They are 21-for-24 (87.5 percent) this month with four short-handed goals.
“Listen, the power play is sexier, so to speak,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “It’s goal scoring and nice plays, but the penalty kill has to be the gutsier (special) team if you expect to have success. We’re going to continue working on it and we’re starting to turn the corner.”
The Knights’ defense has excelled in December in part due to the penalty kill. They’re allowing 1.82 goals per game this month, the fewest in the NHL.
2. Howden’s redemption
Howden conceded he deserved his penalty, but tried to make up for it with his goal.
The 26-year-old, who signed a five-year extension with the Knights in November, has four goals his last five games to move into a tie with left wing Ivan Barbashev for the team lead.
“I don’t really think about that stuff,” Howden said. “I think I’m getting some (more) bounces going my way than in previous years. I think I’m finding more confidence as I play here.”
3. Third-period dominance
The Knights have delivered when it’s mattered most this season.
They have a league-best plus-30 goal differential in the third period after outscoring Calgary 2-0 in the final frame Sunday. Winnipeg is the next-closest team at plus-19.
The Knights also improved to 14-1 this season when leading after two periods.
Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.
