LAS VEGAS — The Golden Knights celebrated the return of captain Mark Stone by clinching a 3-2 victory against the Dallas Stars on Friday night, showcasing impressive power-play performance with two goals.
Tomas Hertl and Jack Eichel each capitalized on power-play opportunities, while Nicolas Roy added a goal during even strength. Shea Theodore stood out with two assists, and goalie Adin Hill delivered an outstanding performance, making 37 saves and enhancing his record to 6-1-1 in his last eight starts.
The Stars saw goals from Mavrik Bourque and Mason Marchment, with Jake Oettinger in net, collecting 25 saves. The win marked the Golden Knights’ third consecutive victory and improved their record to 7-1-1 over the last nine games.
Mark Stone made his long-awaited return to the ice for the first time since November 6, following an injury that sidelined him due to a pulled muscle. He was reunited on the top line alongside Eichel and Ivan Barbashev, contributing a primary assist on Hertl’s goal.
This encounter held significance as the Golden Knights aimed to avenge a playoff loss to the Stars last season, where Dallas emerged victorious after a seven-game series. This matchup marked their first face-off since that playoff clash.
From the Stars’ perspective, their struggle to avoid penalties proved costly, including a notable 5-on-3 disadvantage given to the Golden Knights, and later a double minor penalty while they attempted to gain an advantage of their own.
For the Golden Knights, the 39 shots on goal by the Stars did not reflect the game’s dynamics, as Vegas effectively limited Dallas’s attempts to shoot from prime areas, continuing a defensive trend that has been evident in their recent games.
A pivotal moment in the game came when Jamie Benn of the Stars received a double minor penalty for high sticking. During the ensuing power play for the Golden Knights, Eichel found the net from the left circle, establishing a 2-1 lead with just 4:20 remaining in the second period, a lead they would maintain until the end of the game.
In terms of special teams, the Golden Knights demonstrated efficiency by converting on 2 out of 6 power play opportunities. Heading into the match, they boasted the NHL’s sixth-best power play success rate at 26.6%, while the Stars ranked fifth in penalty killing at 83.1%.
Looking ahead, the Stars will take on the Calgary Flames at home on Sunday, whereas the Golden Knights will travel to Winnipeg for their next matchup on Thursday.
