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Nics At Night: Hague and Roy Shine in 5-2 Win

October 28, 2019, 12:31 PM ET [2 Comments]
Jeff Paul
Vegas Golden Knights Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT

Edit: With no games until Thursday evening, the Golden Knights designated Hague and Roy for assignment to the Chicago Wolves (AHL). Chicago has games on Tuesday and Wednesday in Arizona.

Mired in a slump, the Vegas Golden Knights knew something needed to change headed into Sunday's game against shockingly good Anaheim Ducks. No one player was to blame for the team's recent struggles, which makes diagnosing and fixing problems extremely tough. Sometimes, a personnel change can help, simply for the jump a player has when they get into the lineup for the first time or back in for first time in a long time.

On Sunday evening, the Golden Knights made two big changes. First, the defense. Nic Hague slotted back in alongside Deryk Engelland on the third pair. Up front, Nicolas Roy got the start, as the fourth line center, with Tomas Nosek replacing Brandon Pirri on the left side of the third line. Roy is a bigger body, a good two-way center and penalty killer.

"I think that's a good fit (him on the fourth line). We're three big guys that like to play physical."
-Nicolas Roy


Nic Hague opened the season with the Golden Knights, making his first start in their second game of the season, in San Jose. Hague would go on to play six more games, before being replaced in the lineup by Jake Bischoff. Hague did as well as he could despite nerves and an aging defense partner, a performance that was just fine for the rookie defenseman.

Looking for better and more consistent team results, the Golden Knights tapped Bischoff in. Bischoff is a more defensive minded defenseman whereas Hague has a booming slapshot and likes to play on both ends of the ice. With Bischoff in the lineup, the team continued their up and down trend, eventually leading to Hague's reinsertion.


The 6-foot-6 Hague knows how to play physically (USA Today Sports)


Hague put together a solid showing, boasting an 82.35 CF% at 5-on-5 play in approximately 17 minutes of even strength action. He played very well in his own end, displaying good gap control and making the good breakout passes you need out of defensemen in the new NHL. Even in the third period, with five defensemen, Hague held his own with multiple new partners.

"I think my biggest strength comes when I'm shooting the puck, thinking the game fast, and making the right play."
-Nic Hague


It was a bit of a longer road for Nic Roy. His first game action this season came in the American Hockey League with the Chicago Wolves, the team he beat in the Calder Cup Final last season. He failed to record a point in three games at the AHL level, but was recalled by the Golden Knights on October 20.


A goal in his first game of the season, great start for Nicolas Roy (USA Today Sports)


Roy made an impact in his first NHL game, as the fourth line was the best line for Vegas for most of the night. Ryan Reaves scored the Golden Knights' second goal of the game 7:40 and Roy scored his first-ever NHL goal, before the first period ended. In celebration, he "blacked out" as he jumped into the glass to celebrate with the Golden Knights faithful.

Tyler Bischoff on Twitter

The only way to match Nic Roy's celebration after his 1st career NHL goal is with the Spanish goal call, courtesy of @VGKSPANISH https://t.co/KPyAk2Chsl



His goal came on a great individual effort as he chased down a chipped puck. He showed great speed through the neutral zone as he approached the Ducks' defense. He got the puck at the Ducks blue line, split both defensemen, and beat a great goaltender in John Gibson. That goal will be one he remembers for a very long time.

A lethal combination of a pissed off Golden Knights team, a Ducks team on the wrong end of a back-to-back with the Colorado Avalanche, and the spark from Roy and Hague led to a dominating 5-2 victory for the Golden Knights. They held the Ducks, who were without Hampus Lindholm, to a minuscule 15 shots on goal and every player on the team finished with a positive (over 50%) Corsi For %. With the momentum built, the Golden Knights could start a much-needed hot run into November. Head Coach Gerard Gallant has acknowledged that the Pacific Division is better and faster this season and won't let the Golden Knights get complacent.

With the win, the Golden Knights improved to 8-5-0, good for second in the Pacific Division. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the season unfolds. It's hard to predict which teams will still be at the top of the standings later in the year. With so many unknowns, it's important for the Golden Knights to build momentum and bank as many points as possible in the early going. With so many young, hungry, and talented players waiting in the wings, they will be just fine.

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