LAS VEGAS — In an exciting matchup on Friday night, Brett Howden scored his second goal of the game late in the third period, clinching a thrilling 4-3 victory for the Vegas Golden Knights over the Winnipeg Jets, who currently sit at the top of the NHL standings.

Howden’s decisive goal came at the 4:05 mark of the final period, breaking a deadlock that had developed after the Jets equalized the score seven minutes earlier.

Adding to the excitement, Ivan Barbashev also contributed significantly with two goals, and goaltender Adin Hill made 22 saves, leading the Golden Knights to their fourth victory in five games.

On the other side, the Jets were bolstered by Cole Perfetti’s two goals and a further contribution from Neal Pionk, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win, marking Winnipeg’s third loss in their last four encounters, with Eric Comrie making 26 saves in goal.

Noteworthy observations emerged from the game: Perfetti and Pionk ended long goal-scoring droughts to keep the Jets competitive. Perfetti’s scoring break came after an 11-game struggle, while Pionk found the net for the first time in 13 games.

For the Golden Knights, Barbashev’s performance has been notable as he netted at least one goal in three of the last four contests, now extending his point streak to five games. Throughout this period, Barbashev has accumulated four goals and six assists, tying him with Pavel Dorofeyev for the team lead with 12 goals this season.

A critical moment occurred right before Howden’s winning goal when William Karlsson expertly maneuvered the puck. He received a pass in the neutral zone but chose not to advance it immediately. Instead, he skillfully skated cross ice into the attacking zone. His patience paid off as he delivered a perfect no-look, backhand pass through the slot, setting up Howden for the one-timer.

A remarkable milestone was reached by Karlsson, playing in his 700th career game during this match. The 31-year-old forward has been with the Golden Knights since their inception in 2017 and has played 517 games with the franchise, making him one of their all-time leaders in appearances.

Looking ahead, the Jets will travel to Dallas for their next game on Sunday, while the Golden Knights will take on Utah at home on Saturday.