LAS VEGAS — In a thrilling matchup, Jake Neighbours and Brayden Schenn were the heroes for the St. Louis Blues, netting goals during the shootout after their team nearly squandered a lead against the Vegas Golden Knights. The Blues managed to secure a 5-4 victory on Monday night despite giving up two goals in the closing minutes of regulation.
Jack Eichel and Pavel Dorofeyev played pivotal roles for Vegas by scoring rapid-fire goals within the last four minutes, allowing the Golden Knights to tie the game and force overtime, with Dorofeyev finding the back of the net as an extra attacker with just 30 seconds remaining.
For St. Louis, Nathan Walker, Cam Fowler, Schenn, and Neighbours each scored in regular play. Goalkeeper Jordan Binnington put forth a commendable effort with 28 saves, ensuring the Blues earned crucial points in the battle for the playoffs.
This victory moved St. Louis closer to securing a playoff position in the Western Conference, as they are now tied with Vancouver, both teams sitting with 50 points and just one point behind Calgary for the coveted second wild card spot.
On the side of the Golden Knights, Tomas Hertl and Brett Howden contributed with a goal each, while Shea Theodore showcased his playmaking skills by notching up four assists. Goaltender Adin Hill made 24 stops in a losing effort. Despite the defeat, this loss marked the sixth in their last seven games for Vegas, although they did pull ahead of Edmonton by a single point in the Pacific Division standings.
**Key Takeaways:**
– **Blues:** Since December 23, St. Louis has demonstrated impressive offensive prowess, scoring a league-leading 51 goals and averaging an astonishing 3.92 goals per game.
– **Golden Knights:** Tomas Hertl has been particularly productive, scoring his ninth power-play goal of the season and accumulating 10 points (5 goals, 5 assists) over the last six games.
**Key Moment:**
The defining moment came when the Golden Knights maneuvered the puck expertly around the offensive zone. Shea Theodore delivered a precise pass to Dorofeyev, who then executed a powerful shot past Binnington to level the score at 4-4.
**Key Stat:**
Out of 15 matchups that have taken place in Las Vegas between the Knights and the Blues, nine have ended up going into overtime, including three that required shootouts. Prior to this game, the Golden Knights had a strong record, winning six out of the first eight encounters that extended beyond regulation.
**Looking Ahead:**
The two teams are set to face each other again to wrap up a home-and-home series, this time in St. Louis on Thursday.
