LAS VEGAS — Tomas Hertl continued his exceptional form with his second hat trick of the month, leading the Vegas Golden Knights to a 6-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night.
Jack Eichel played a significant role in the win, scoring a goal and assisting on three others. Additional goals from Nicolas Roy and Mark Stone further contributed to the Golden Knights’ success. Adin Hill played effectively in goal, stopping 28 shots.
The Red Wings saw goals by Lucas Raymond, the newly-acquired Patrick Kane, and Alex DeBrincat, while Cam Talbot made 30 saves for Detroit.
Hertl took center stage in the first period, reversing an initial 1-0 shortfall with two goals. The first was a power-play score set up by Stone’s pass across the crease, which Hertl deftly deflected home. He then doubled his tally with another neat tip-in as the period waned. Hertl completed his hat trick with a second power-play goal at 8:02 of the second period.
Takeaways:
Golden Knights: After being shut out 3-0 by Detroit just six days prior, Vegas showed their resilience. They have been a formidable force at home, securing a 27-7-3 record.
Red Wings: Detroit capitalized on their power-play opportunities, with Raymond scoring early at 4:47 of the first, and Kane adding another at 1:49 into the second period.
Key Moment:
Towards the end of the first period, Vegas nearly lost a potential goal due to an offside ruling with 1:58 remaining, which would have given them a 3-1 advantage. However, most importantly, Roy restored the lead on the verge of the buzzer, sending a backhanded shot past Talbot after receiving a precise pass from Ivan Barbashev.
Key Stat:
Hertl’s hat trick marked the third consecutive game for the Golden Knights at home where a player achieved a hat trick. Hertl himself recorded three goals against the Los Angeles Kings on March 9 in a narrow 6-5 defeat, and Pavel Dorofeyev previously netted three goals against the Boston Bruins in a dominant 5-1 win last Thursday.
Up Next:
The Golden Knights will conclude a three-game home stretch on Sunday night as they take on Tampa Bay. Meanwhile, the Red Wings will face Utah on the road Monday night.