Hannah Kirkell
After losing six of their last seven games, the Vegas Golden Knights desperately needed a win. Pacific Division standings aside, the losing streak wasn’t doing anything for morale. Thus, Thursday’s 6-2 beatdown over the Pittsburgh Penguins was just what the doctor ordered.
As has been the case over the last few games, the Golden Knights started strong. In the first period, they generated 13 scoring chances while holding the Penguins to six.
The Golden Knights broke the ice at 8:41 in the first. Brett Howden pestered Parker Wotherspoon into a turnover, and Colton Sissons tapped the puck over for Braedan Bowman. Bowman held the puck, danced around Wotherspoon, and found Sissons for a back-door tap-in.
“Once we got that first [goal], it was big,” said Braedan Bowman postgame.
The Golden Knights doubled their lead just 5:02 into the second period. Pavel Dorofeyev carried the puck deep into the zone, and Tomáš Hertl kept the play alive behind the net. Braedan Bowman intercepted Pittsburgh’s first clearing attempt, and Kaedan Korczak stopped the second. Korczak found Dorofeyev at the goal line, and Dorofeyev beat Artūrs Šilovs over the glove.
Down 2-0, the Penguins started to press; they got on the board at 8:26 in the second. Rickard Rakell got positioning on Brayden McNabb; Bryan Rust got the pass through for a back-door tap-in.
In recent games, the Golden Knights have struggled to stop the bleeding. They had no such problems on Thursday and responded with a goal of their own just 54 seconds after Rakell’s tally.
The Golden Knights restored their two-goal lead at 9:20 in the second. Mitch Marner intercepted Connor Dewar’s passing attempt, entered the zone, and executed a give-and-go with Pavel Dorofeyev. He received the puck atop the goal crease, waited Artūrs Šilovs out, and stuffed it home while midair.
“They had a little push there [in the second period],” said Braedan Bowman. “I thought we responded well. They score, and then the guys go out there and get that one right back. That’s huge for the morale on the bench. I mean, we were up.”
The Penguins cut the Golden Knights’ lead to one at 16:22 in the second. Ryan Shea sent a stretch-pass up ice for Anthony Mantha, who lumbered into the Vegas zone. Mantha shielded the puck, shrugged off Braedan Bowman, and found Ben Kindel for a back-door tap-in.
Strong third periods have defined the 2026 Golden Knights; Thursday was no different. Despite being outshot 11-6, they did not allow another goal. The Golden Knights stood strong defensively and controlled 74.43% of the expected goal share.
The Golden Knights restored their two-goal lead once more just 4:35 into the third. After a Penguins miscommunication, Pavel Dorofeyev knocked Ville Kouvinen off the puck. Dorofeyev chipped it ahead for Mitch Marner, who entered the zone. Marner returned to the trailing Dorofeyev in the slot, and the winger snapped home his second of the night.
The Golden Knights added insult to injury at 6:20 in the third. Shea Theodore sent a stretch pass to Ivan Barbashev at center ice. Barbashev entered the Penguins’ zone, cut to the middle of the ice, and left the puck for Jack Eichel; Eichel stepped into the slot and beat Artūrs Šilovs.
Despite trailing by three goals, the Penguins pulled Artūrs Šilovs for the extra attacker with 7:39 remaining in regulation. The Golden Knights held them to five shots on goal, and Adin Hill turned them all aside.
Hill finished the night with 24 saves on 26 shots, a .923 save percentage, and a 2.53 GSAx.
After several attempts— including Adin Hill’s bid at a goalie goal— Brayden McNabb hit the empty net with 59 seconds remaining in regulation.
Captain Mark Stone returned to the lineup after missing the past six games with an upper-body injury.
It’s no coincidence that, in his first game back, players credited their strong performance during the 6-2 win to the energy on the bench.
Players credited their strong performance during the 6-2 win to the energy on the bench.
“We had some good energy tonight,” said Braedan Bowman postgame. “I think that’s important when we’re playing our best. We’ve got a good energy on the bench, and I think that carries over onto the ice.”
