On Saturday, the Vegas Golden Knights (20-11-12) played the first game of a back-to-back against the St. Louis Blues (17-21-8). Despite falling behind early, they were the better team for the majority of the night, and it showed in the final score. Mark Stone found the empty net to extend his goal streak to seven games, and the Golden Knights held on for a 4-2 win.
The Blues took the lead just 53 seconds into the first period off a fortuitous bounce. Philip Broberg entered the zone and attempted to rim the puck around the boards. It took a weird bounce and ended up on the stick of Robert Thomas, who had a wide-open net to shoot into.
Despite falling behind early, the Golden Knights were the better team in the first period. They outshot the Blues 12-4 and controlled 63.7% of the expected goal share. They generated seven high-danger scoring chances while holding St. Louis to one.
Their strong play paid off, and the Golden Knights found the equalizer at 7:34 in the first off a lucky bounce of their own. After a face-off win, Tyler Tucker attempted to clear the zone. Instead, the puck came to Mitch Marner in front of the net, and the winger beat Jordan Binnington in his 700th NHL game.
The Golden Knights took their first lead of the night at 1:27 in the second period. Jack Eichel played catch with Kaedan Korczak and drove deeper into the zone. From below the goal line, he attempted to find Reilly Smith back-door; the puck bounced off Colton Parayko and past Jordan Binnington.
The Golden Knights extended their lead at 15:48 in the second. Pavel Dorofeyev drove into the zone and left the puck for Mitch Marner. Marner passed to Jeremy Lauzon at the point, and Lauzon found Shea Theodore above the right circle. Theodore stepped into his shot and rocketed a shot past Jordan Binnington short-side.
In the third period, the Blues outplayed the Golden Knights. They outshot Vegas 8-5 and generated four high-danger scoring chances while only allowing one. However, Akira Schmid was up to the task, and the Golden Knights bent but didn’t break.
The Blues cut the Golden Knights’ lead to one on the power play just 3:33 into the third. After a shorthanded opportunity didn’t materialize for Jack Eichel and Mark Stone, Jordan Kyrou sent it back the other way. Robert Thomas entered the zone and found Jake Neighbours all alone in the slot, and Neighbours scored.
The Blues pulled Jordan Binnington for the extra attacker with 3:33 remaining in regulation, but couldn’t do anything with it. Jack Eichel won the defensive zone draw, and Mark Stone extended his goal streak to seven games nine seconds later.
The Blues pulled Binnington for the extra attacker again; again, they couldn’t generate any good looks. The Golden Knights buckled down and held on for a 4-2 victory.
