We like analytics and numbers in sports because, over the course of the season, they tend to explain a team’s performance. However, hockey is still a sport played by humans, and emotions, both good and bad, are factors in the outcomes of individual games. Such was the case in the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 5-4 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night. Nick Paul flung a shot from the boards that beat rookie Jiri Patra at the 18:47 mark of the third period for the win.
Playing against the Golden Knights is like playing hockey in the Triwizards Maze.