Pierre-Edouard Bellemare impresses as Golden Knights’ penalty killer

The sample size has been small. But Pierre-Edouard Bellemare has played big.

He’s working in the dirty areas, extracting pucks from the corners, harassing opponents, killing penalties, winning faceoffs, back-checking and helping out his defensemen.

He’s hard to notice because he’s on the Golden Knights’ fourth line and has scored only once. But No. 41 has had an excellent preseason and is making a strong case for a roster spot when the Knights open their inaugural NHL season Friday in Dallas.

“Everything has gone really well,” Bellemare said. “It’s a little bit of an adventure when you come to a new team, but everyone’s in the same boat and everyone has made an effort to get to know everyone and their stories. It’s an incredibly tight group already for two weeks, which is unbelievable given the short time we’ve been together.”

The 32-year-old center from France, who was claimed from the Philadelphia Flyers in June’s expansion draft, has one goal in three games while averaging just 10.74 minutes of ice time. But he has been a big part of the Knights’ successful penalty killing unit, which has killed off 16 straight power plays entering Sunday’s 5 p.m. preseason finale against the San Jose Sharks at T-Mobile Arena.

“I’m trying to do my job and give my all every practice,” Bellemare said. “All the guys knew there were spots to be taken, and it has created healthy competition. It makes everybody a little better, too.”

Bellemare said his penalty killing prowess is a matter of being tenacious and making things uncomfortable for the opposition.

“My way to play is a little bit simple; I try to skate a lot on the kill because I know it’s annoying when they don’t have as much time to set up their power play,” he said. “I knew if I was going to make it in the NHL, I had to do other things, and I enjoy being on the PK. It’s a very important part of the game.

“You have to sacrifice minutes, but it’s about giving everything on your shift when you’re out there killing penalties. You can’t really coast, or you’re going to hurt your team.”

Knights coach Gerard Gallant has come to trust Bellemare. Success comes with puck possession, which comes from winning faceoffs. Bellemare has won 17 of 33 draws in three games.

“I think that’s his role, and he’s played that role a lot,” Gallant said. “He knows that’s his job. He’s a guy who gets into the shooting lanes and blocks shots, he competes real hard and he takes a lot of pride in his penalty killing.

“It’s a tough job to do because you have to block a lot of shots, and he does that.”

Despite his impressive play, Bellemare knows he’s not a lock to make the team. He hopes he gets a final chance Sunday to prove his worth before the Knights turn in their 23-man roster Tuesday.

As someone who didn’t make the NHL until he was 29, he understands and appreciates his position.

“You have to prove yourself every day,” he said. “Nothing’s guaranteed. I’m just trying to give it my all every shift and do my best. How I play is the one thing I have control over.”

More Golden Knights: Follow all of our Golden Knights coverage online at reviewjournal.com/GoldenKnights and @HockeyinVegas on Twitter.

Contact Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow @stevecarprj on Twitter.