SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Jack Eichel scored two goals and assisted on a third to power the Vegas Golden Knights to a 4-1 victory over the Utah Mammoth on Thursday night.
Ben Hutton and Braeden Bowman each scored a goal and Shea Theodore had three assists to help the Golden Knights win for the third time in four games. Akira Schmid had 25 saves.
Nate Schmidt scored for Utah and Karel Vejmelka made 29 stops. The Mammoth dropped their fourth straight contest and have just two wins in their last 11 games.
After a scoreless first period, Vegas scored twice in 19 seconds early in the second period.
Eichel, who now has 10 goals this season, got the first at 3:09 of the second, slipping the puck behind Vejmelka’s blind side. Hutton followed 19 seconds later, snapping the puck home in traffic to put Vegas up 2-0.
Schmidt scored his first goal of the season at the 6:38 of the second to cut the deficit in half. The Golden Knights regained their two-goal lead when Eichel scored again with 3:09 left in the second, scoring on a breakaway set up by a long pass from Bowman.
Bowman tipped in the puck 45 seconds into the third to complete the scoring.
Vegas has won all seven games this season where it has led after the second period.
Up next
Knights: at Anaheim on Saturday night.
Mammoth: host New York Rangers on Saturday night.
-
‘Hexing’ the VGK? Denver donut shop leans into Vegas’ villain reputation for WCF
A Denver donut shop tried to “hex” the Golden Knights ahead of the Western Conference Final. Then Vegas won Game 1 and leaned further into its role as the NHL’s villain.
VGK rolls to early lead, hold off Avs 4-2 to open Western Conference Final
It was a smothering performance most of the game by the Golden Knights as they kept the pressure on goaltender Scott Wedgewood, while controlling the Avalanche's speed through the neutral zone.
Colorado without Makar in Game 1; Stone skates for VGK ahead of West Final
The Avalanche will be without superstar defenseman Cale Makar for Game 1 against the Golden Knights, while Vegas captain Mark Stone returned to the ice Wednesday morning at Ball Arena as his status for the series opener remains uncertain.
NHL Coaches' Association says it is monitoring the situation with Bruce Cassidy and Vegas
The NHL Coaches' Association says it is closely monitoring the situation involving Bruce Cassidy amid reports that the Vegas Golden Knights have denied multiple teams permission to speak with him about working for them
