The Tahoe Knight Monsters rolled into their thirteenth game of the season ready for another showdown with the Greensboro Gargoyles. Tahoe, the ECHL affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights, entered the night with a 7-4-1 record and held third place in the league standings, a strong start they were determined to build on. Their previous meeting with Greensboro ended in a tough 4-3 overtime loss, a result that left the Knight Monsters hungry for redemption. The Gargoyles, affiliated with the Carolina Hurricanes, came in at 3-5-3 and sat twenty-second in the league, but they carried confidence after securing that overtime win in the first-ever matchup between the two teams. With the all-time series now sitting at 0-0-1 in Greensboro’s favor, Tahoe was eager to even the score and regain momentum as the season pressed forward.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters entered their thirteenth game of the season determined to halt a growing skid after dropping back-to-back games. In their previous outing, Tahoe managed to take the lead twice but couldn’t extend it, a missed opportunity that added urgency heading into this matchup. With hopes of avoiding a full-fledged losing streak, the Knight Monsters were focused on reestablishing themselves as one of the top teams in the ECHL. Meanwhile, the Greensboro Gargoyles were looking to build off their recent success and claw their way out of the league’s lower tier. For Greensboro, their last win offered a potential turning point as they aimed to string together consecutive victories. With Tahoe chasing its eighth win of the year and Greensboro gunning for their fourth, this game shaped up as a true test of resilience. Would Tahoe reclaim their place in the win column, or would Greensboro keep climbing and continue to shake up the standings?
In goal for the Tahoe Knight Monsters, #30 Zane McIntyre earned the start, marking his fourth appearance of the season as he continued to settle into his rhythm. At the other end of the ice, the Greensboro Gargoyles turned to #35 Connor Ungar, who also stepped in for his fourth start of the year. With both goaltenders looking to build momentum, the matchup set the stage for a compelling battle in the crease.
Just a minute into the opening period, Greensboro’s Demetrios Koumontzis was sent to the box for a hooking call, giving Tahoe an early power-play opportunity. Midway through the frame, Koumontzis found himself penalized again. This time for cross-checking, handing the Knight Monsters a second chance with the man advantage. Despite the penalties, it was the Gargoyles who ultimately broke through. With seven minutes left in the first, #6 Wade Murphy capitalized on a loose play and buried an unassisted goal to put Greensboro ahead 1-0.
At the end of the first period, the Greensboro Gargoyles held a 1-0 lead, carrying their early momentum into the intermission while the Knight Monsters looked to regroup.
The second period brought plenty of physical play but no change on the scoreboard. Eight minutes in, Greensboro’s Artyom Borshyov was called for interference, giving Tahoe another chance on the power play. Later in the frame, with eight minutes remaining, the Knight Monsters Kevin Wall was sent off for tripping, shifting the momentum back the other way. The intensity ramped up even more in the final minutes when Tahoe’s Jake Durflinger and Greensboro’s Ethan Leyh dropped the gloves, earning matching fighting majors. Despite the penalties and rising tension, neither side found the back of the net. The Knight Monsters headed into the third period still trailing 0-1.
Nine minutes into the third period, Greensboro’s Dalton Skelly was called for hooking, giving Tahoe another crucial power-play chance as they pushed to tie the game. In the final minutes, the Knight Monsters pulled their goalie for the extra attacker, hoping to generate one last surge. Instead, the Gargoyles sealed the outcome with an empty-net goal, as #19 Ethan Leyh cashed in to put the game out of reach. #22 Artyom Borshyov picked up the assist, securing Greensboro’s win and closing out the night.
When the final horn sounded, the Greensboro Gargoyles came away with a 2-0 victory, shutting down Tahoe’s offense and handing the Knight Monsters another tough loss.
https://echl.com/videos/tahoe-knight-monsters-vs-greensboro-gargoyles-nov-14-2025
Tahoe found themselves playing from behind early, and their offense never quite clicked as the night went on. Despite plenty of power play opportunities, the Knight Monsters couldn’t convert, leaving the door open for Greensboro to grind out a low-scoring win capped by an empty-netter. Strong goaltending kept Tahoe in the fight until the final minutes, but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome. The loss now marks three straight for the Knight Monsters, putting them at risk of being swept in their three-game stretch against the Gargoyles. With the standings tightening and momentum slipping, Tahoe needs to close out this road trip with a much-needed win.
Statistically, the Knight Monsters held a slight edge in shots, finishing with two more than Greensboro. The Gargoyles made their chances count with a stronger shooting percentage. Tahoe earned three additional power plays, yet went 0 for 4 on the night. Greensboro took only one power play opportunity, finishing 0 for 1. Both teams were perfect on the penalty kill. In net, #30 Zane McIntyre stood tall for Tahoe, stopping 26 of 28 shots for a solid 93% save percentage. On the other side, #35 Connor Ungar delivered a flawless performance, turning away all 30 shots he faced to record a 100% save percentage. The shutout marked Greensboro’s second of the season, and the first time all year that the Tahoe Knight Monsters failed to score.
After 13 games, the Tahoe Knight Monsters hold a 7-5-1 record, totaling 15 points so far this season. In the broader ECHL standings, they sit in seventh place, while in the Western Conference they are second overall. Within the Western Conference’s Mountain Division, Tahoe leads the pack, holding first place and remaining firmly in a playoff position as the season moves forward.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters are set to face the Greensboro Gargoyles in the fourteenth game of the season. This matchup marks the third and final game of their three-game series in Greensboro, with the puck dropping on Saturday, November 15th, 2025, at 4:00 PM. Tahoe will be looking to finish this road stretch strong as they take on the Gargoyles.
Zac Electrifly 
Leave a comment