The Golden Knights' seven-game win streak was snapped in a 2-1 loss to the Flyers, whose six-game winless streak ended Monday.
LAS VEGAS — The Vegas Golden Knights have always been in win-now mode and the trade for veteran defenseman Rasmus Andersson Sunday from the Calgary Flames was yet another example of the team’s willingness to do whatever it takes to put a team on the ice that can compete in the present for the Stanley Cup.
The Knights probably could’ve used Andersson Monday against the struggling Philadelphia Flyers. But they’ll have to wait until later this week.
Travis Konecny’s two breakaway goals were enough to snap the Flyers’ six-game winless streak and Vegas’ seven-game winning streak as Philadelphia managed to hang on for a 2-1 win at T-Mobile Arena.
The Knights had seven power play opportunities but managed to score just once. And that’s not good enough, especially when you’re facing a struggling team like the Flyers.
“Early on we were casual,” said Knights coach Bruce Cassidy of his team’s lack of execution overall when it had the man advantage. “We didn’t get enough (pucks) to the blue paint.
“We didn’t execute well enough.”
The acquisition of Andersson, who was Noah Hannifin’s teammate in Calgary, dominated the talk Monday.
“We got a high-end defenseman,” general manager Kelly McCrimmon said of Andersson, who is 29 and will represent Sweden in next month’s Olympics in Italy. “He’s aggressive in the offensive zone. He’s going to add a lot to our hockey club when it comes to moving the puck and making plays.”
To obtain Andersson, the Knights had to move defenseman Zach Whitecloud along with prospect Abram Wiebe, a first-round pick in 2027 and a conditional second round pick in 2028 to Calgary. The Flames are retaining 50% of Andersson’s $4.55 million salary. He is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2025-26 season and McCrimmon said the Knights will look to sign Andersson to an extension between now and July 1 when he could hit the open market.
“He’s really excited to be with our team,” McCrimmon said of Andersson, who will wear No. 4 with the Knights.
Hanifin said Andersson will be a welcome addition.
“A lot of excitement,” said Hanifin, who talked to Andersson for 20 minutes Sunday following the trades. “I played with him for five years and he’s just a great teammate, a great guy. I think he’s going to fit in really well here. He’s a great hockey player and he moves the puck really well. I can’t wait to see him.”
The timing of acquiring Andersson was important given the update from McCrimmon that McNabb, along with William Karlsson, Brandon Saad, Brett Howden, Carter Hart and Colton Sissons would not be available until following the Olympic break at the earliest, which means late February. But he also said the team was interested in Andersson going back to last summer so McNabb’s injury, which has kept him out of the lineup since his injury against Nashville on New Year’s Eve, was not a catalyst in the pursuit of Andersson.
Andersson didn’t play Monday against the Flyers and it could be a few days before he makes his Golden Knights debut. As a Sweden citizen working in Canada and moving to the U.S., there’s a lot of paperwork involved and it could get complicated. Fortunately for Andersson, the Knights have a stellar individual when it comes to dealing with the State Department in such matters in Katy Boettinger, the Director of Hockey Administration. If she can expedite things for him, she will.
The Knights are headed to Boston Thursday to begin a four-game road trip. Following the matchup with the Bruins, it’s off to Toronto for the Mitch Marner homecoming Friday against the Maple Leafs. Then it’s on to Ottawa Sunday with the trip wrapping up in Montreal next Tuesday. The hope is to have Andersson available during the Canadian leg of the trip.
Jaycob Megna was in the lineup Monday against the Flyers, taking Whitecloud’s roster spot.
As has been the case most nights lately, Vegas fell behind, trailing Philadelphia 1-0 with Adin Hill in goal. The Knights pulled even late in the second on Tomas Hertl’s power play goal, a pretty redirect of Jack Eichel’s pass after Mark Stone got the puck to Eichel. For Stone, it was the 12th game in his last 14 where he has registered at least a point. He now has 48 points in 32 games this season.
But Konecny delivered on a breakaway again, this time shorthanded, beating Hill for what would be the game-winner.
The Knights caught a huge break late when Owen Tippett was called for delay of game with 1:33 to go. But despite pulling Hill for a 6-on-4 advantage, they were unable to get the equalizer and two streaks would come to an end.
“They’re an NHL team that had lost five in a row and I’m sure it was pointed out to them,” Cassidy said of the Flyers. “We were there a few weeks ago. We know the feeling.
“We mismanaged a couple of pucks that led to breakaways and they both went in. So if you’re not scoring, you need to make a save on one of them. But we had opportunities to make up for both of them. We got one, but our top guys had an off-night.
“I was going to start our second unit on the one we scored so maybe the coach was out of sync tonight. So I’ll second-guess myself for not starting the second unit and give them a chance to give us some life. At the end of the day, we didn’t execute well enough on the power play.”
Category: General Sports
