Alex Pietrangelo’s late penalty in Game 5 led to a crucial powerplay goal for the Dallas Stars, contributing to a 3-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights and prompting criticism from Coach Bruce Cassidy for Pietrangelo’s lack of discipline.
On a tense Wednesday, Alex Pietrangelo took a penalty that really shouldn’t have happened. Late in Game 5, this mistake set the stage for the Dallas Stars. They snagged a go-ahead powerplay goal, edging out a crucial 3-2 victory. This win put the defending champs, the Vegas Golden Knights, on the brink. They’re staring down the barrel of a first-round knockout.
Post-game, the atmosphere was thick with disappointment. Golden Knights’ coach, Bruce Cassidy, didn’t mince words about Pietrangelo’s blunder. It was his second major slip-up in consecutive games. “A veteran guy should know better,” he lamented. Cassidy, speaking to Nick Walters of KTNV, emphasized the tight margins in playoff hockey. “We should know better, but it happens,” he said, stressing the importance of discipline.
The incident that sparked the controversy? It happened at 15:19 in the second period. Pietrangelo, seemingly retaliating, elbowed Tyler Seguin of the Dallas Stars. Earlier, Seguin had gone after Vegas’ Shea Theodore. Initially, officials slapped Pietrangelo with a five-minute major. But upon review, they downgraded it to a minor penalty. Yet, the replay was clear: Pietrangelo’s undisciplined backhand had left Seguin with a bloody nose.
