LAS VEGAS – In an exciting matchup, William Karlsson netted the game-winning goal early in the third period, leading the Vegas Golden Knights to a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night.
Karlsson celebrated his sixth goal of the season by maneuvering along the goal line, where he managed to deflect a shot off Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen’s stick. He quickly recovered the loose puck in the crease and scored on the opposite side of the net, solidifying the Knights’ lead.
Alex Pietrangelo contributed to the score with his third goal this season, and Brett Howden added an empty-net goal, his 12th of the year, with just 51 seconds remaining. Meanwhile, Adin Hill was impressive in goal, turning away 19 shots to improve his record to 14 wins, 5 losses, and 2 overtime losses this season.
Teddy Blueger scored one for the Canucks, while Lankinen recorded 19 saves in the defeat. The Golden Knights, currently at the top of the Pacific Division, have managed to secure six wins in their last seven games.
In terms of key takeaways, the Canucks arrived in Vegas holding the fifth-best power play on the road, successfully converting on 27.9% of their chances with 12 goals on 43 attempts. However, they struggled against the Knights, failing to capitalize on both power plays during the game.
The Golden Knights displayed solid defensive work, especially in the second period where they significantly limited the Canucks’ opportunities. During this period, Vegas outshot Vancouver 9-2, essentially keeping the game a tight one-goal contest until Pietrangelo’s equalizer.
A pivotal moment occurred shortly after Karlsson’s goal gave Vegas the lead. Pavel Dorofeyev received a high-sticking penalty in the offensive zone, but the Golden Knights successfully defended against Vancouver’s power play, maintaining their 2-1 advantage.
A noteworthy statistic from the game highlights the Golden Knights’ dominance in the third period, where they have outscored opponents 44-23. Their impressive plus-21 goal differential in this final frame leads the NHL this season.
Looking ahead, the Canucks will host the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, while the Golden Knights will continue their three-game homestand that night against the Seattle Kraken.