Shea Theodore netted the decisive goal in the fourth round of the shootout, leading the Vegas Golden Knights to a 4-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Friday night.
Jonathan Marchessault tallied two goals and an assist, and Jack Eichel also scored for the Western Conference-leading Golden Knights, who have now won eight of their last 11 games (8-1-2). Adin Hill made a career-high 46 saves.
“Tonight felt like a playoff game,” Hill said. “I’m glad we got the win. They have skilled players and a lot of speed. They’re a fast team.”
Golden Knights coach Bill Cassidy noted that his team struggled initially with New Jersey’s speed, as they were outshot 16-4 in the first period and trailed 2-1.
“Tonight, we weren’t prepared to play, but Adin sure was,” Cassidy said. “It was a great performance. Good for Adin, he was really on tonight.”
Dawson Mercer, Jesper Bratt, and Miles Wood scored for New Jersey, which is 9-2-2 in its last 13 games. Akira Schmid made 25 saves.
After an overtime period in which New Jersey outshot Vegas 8-0, Theodore’s goal in the shootout finally broke the deadlock, following the stops of the first seven shooters.
Wood tied the game 3-3 with 7:07 remaining in the third period by converting the rebound of his own shot after a centering pass from Jesper Boqvist.
Eichel had given the Golden Knights a 3-2 lead 3:47 into the third, beating Schmid through the five-hole after a pass from Marchessault on a 2-on-1 rush.
Marchessault opened the scoring for Vegas 7:48 into the game, earning his 400th career point (178 goals, 222 assists).
Bratt tied the game at 1-1 on a power play with his 25th goal of the season with 4:44 left in the first period. Mercer then put the Devils ahead with 28 seconds left in the opening period, scoring for the eighth straight game.
“I liked how we started the game,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. “But their goalie made a couple of big saves.”
Marchessault tied it 2-2 with his 19th season goal 7:10 into the second period.
NOTES
- Mercer’s eight-game goal streak is the longest in the NHL this season.
- The Golden Knights have won eight straight home games, with their last home loss on January 19, a 3-2 defeat to Detroit.
- Knights forward William Carrier left the game near the end of the first period with a “lower-body injury.” Cassidy mentioned he’d better understand Carrier’s status on Saturday.
- It was the Knights’ fourth overtime in their last six games.
- The Devils remain one of only two teams, along with Toronto, that haven’t been shut out this season.
UP NEXT
- Devils: Visit Arizona on Sunday to conclude a three-game road trip.
- Golden Knights: Host Montreal on Sunday to finish a three-game homestand.
