In a thrilling matchup on Sunday night, the Vegas Golden Knights emerged victorious over the Vancouver Canucks with a 3-2 win, helped by Victor Olofsson’s decisive goal late in the game. With just 3:14 left on the clock, Olofsson broke the deadlock thanks to a clever assist from William Karlsson, who navigated the puck from behind the net. This win bolstered the Golden Knights’ position at the top of the Pacific Division, extending their lead over the Los Angeles Kings to five points. Meanwhile, the Canucks are trailing by eight points for a potential playoff spot, with only four games remaining in their season.
Goals also came from Ivan Barbashev and Nicolas Roy for Vegas, while netminder Adin Hill was solid between the pipes, saving 19 shots. On the Vancouver side, Nils Hoglander and Aatu Raty put points on the board, with Kevin Lankinen putting in a strong effort with 32 saves.
Both teams were coming off wins the day before, with Vegas narrowly defeating Calgary in overtime and Vancouver cruising past Anaheim with a commanding 6-2 victory.
The first period saw Hoglander draw first blood for the Canucks at 4:46, before Barbashev equalized the game at 8:36. Roy then pushed the Golden Knights ahead with a goal with 6:45 left in the period. Not long after, Raty found the back of the net at 8:03 in the second period, leveling the score again with a play that survived a challenge for goalie interference. Vegas was subsequently penalized, but Hill made crucial saves to maintain the scoreline.
Key takeaways from the game include a power play struggle for Vegas, whose top-ranked unit failed to capitalize on two opportunities and has not scored on its last six attempts. In contrast, Hoglander made a triumphant return for the Canucks after being sidelined for six games with an undisclosed ailment, promptly marking his comeback with a goal.
A pivotal moment came when Raty’s goal was scrutinized; Vegas questioned possible interference with Hill, but after a detailed review, the play stood as called. It’s worth noting that Vegas outshot Vancouver 12-2 in the crucial third period, further testament to their dominating presence on the ice.
Looking ahead, both teams are scheduled to play again on Tuesday night. Vegas will wrap up their three-match road stretch in Colorado, while Vancouver faces off against Dallas.