Ilya Samsonov delivered a standout performance with 38 saves as the Vegas Golden Knights edged out the Ottawa Senators with a score of 3-2 on Thursday evening.
Samsonov, who struggled in his previous two games allowing 10 goals, stepped up under pressure, making crucial saves against key Senators players including Josh Norris, David Perron, Tim Stutzle, and Brady Tkachuk.
With this latest loss, the Senators have extended their losing streak to four games and have scored only twice in their last three matches, leaving them with a record of 8-10-1.
The Golden Knights, now at 12-6-2, took an early lead in the first period after a diving save attempt by Linus Ullmark left Jack Eichel with an open net, allowing him to net his sixth goal of the season.
Brett Howden doubled the lead midway through the second period, finding the back of the net against Ullmark, who recorded 29 saves, with a shot placed under his arm.
In the third period, Adam Gaudette managed to score for Ottawa, breaking through Samsonov with just under seven minutes left, converting on a power-play opportunity and narrowing the gap to 3-1. However, Pavel Dorofeyev quickly extended Vegas’s lead back to two goals just two minutes later.
Drake Batherson kept hope alive for the Senators by scoring off a rebound from Jake Sanderson with a little over seven minutes remaining, but despite outshooting Vegas 18-5 in the final frame, they could not overcome the deficit.
The Senators have faced difficulties after conceding the first goal; they are 1-9-1 when doing so, and have now lost eight consecutive matches under such circumstances.
On the other hand, the Golden Knights took advantage of a lapse in the Senators’ line change, which led to a straightforward play up the ice resulting in Howden’s goal and a 2-0 advantage.
A pivotal moment in the game arose for the Senators when they failed to convert a crucial power-play chance while trailing 3-2 late in the third period.
Statistically, the Golden Knights have dominated the matchup against Ottawa, sporting a remarkable 12-1-1 record versus them since entering the NHL in 2017.
Looking ahead, the Senators are set to host the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night, while the Golden Knights will take on the Montreal Canadiens in a Saturday afternoon matchup.