LAS VEGAS — The Vegas Golden Knights emerged victorious for the third consecutive game, defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 on Wednesday night. Jack Eichel, Noah Hanifin, and Tomas Hertl each contributed a goal and an assist to the winning effort, bolstering Vegas’ position atop the Pacific Division standings.
This recent triumph marks the Golden Knights’ sixth win in their last seven games, allowing them to extend their division lead to a sizable six points ahead of the Edmonton Oilers. With a season record of 23-6-3, the Golden Knights are among a select group of only four NHL teams boasting a league-high 23 home victories.
Adding to the night’s score sheet, Brett Howden and Tanner Pearson found the back of the net for Vegas, while goaltender Adin Hill made 29 crucial saves. On the opposing side, Toronto’s Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner managed to score but were unable to overturn the deficit. Joseph Woll, starting for the Maple Leafs, conceded three goals and recorded four saves before being substituted by Anthony Stolarz, who faced a barrage, allowing two goals and stopping 16 shots.
Toronto’s efforts to maintain their road success fell short, as they saw their four-game away win streak come to an end. Their road record now stands at 18-10-2. Meanwhile, Noah Hanifin of Vegas showed impressive consistency, achieving three consecutive multipoint games, a personal best. In his last seven games, Hanifin has accumulated nine points.
A significant highlight occurred early in the second period when Eichel delivered a backhand pass to Hanifin from his knees. Hanifin seized the opportunity, scoring from the high slot to further extend Vegas’ lead to 4-0. Eichel’s assist was his 54th of the season, tying his career-high. Currently, he is just four points short of William Karlsson’s single-season franchise points record of 78.
Tomas Hertl continued to display offensive prowess, scoring his fourth goal in six games, making him fourth in the NHL with 14 goals since January 7. Looking ahead, the Golden Knights are set to host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night, while the Maple Leafs will continue their road trip against the Colorado Avalanche in Denver on Saturday.
