LAS VEGAS — Jack Eichel had a aim and two assists in his return from a lower-body harm and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 on Thursday night time.
Vegas leads the Western Convention and is tied for second within the NHL at its halfway level of the season. Pittsburgh, a 2-1 loser in Boston on Monday within the Winter Basic, has misplaced six straight, going 0-4-2 since Dec. 27.
After giving the Knights a 2-0 lead early within the first interval, Eichel – again after lacking 11 video games – assisted on targets by Chandler Stephenson and Mark Stone. Paul Cotter, who was again after lacking eight video games with an upper-body harm, and Phil Kessel additionally scored whereas Adin Hill made 38 saves.
“It is good to see contributions up and down the lineup,” Eichel mentioned. “I feel that is one of many strengths of our group is we now have a deep staff and might roll 4 strains out and play towards anybody.”
And whereas coach Bruce Cassidy agreed and praised the Knights for his or her collective effort in a recreation 9 skaters had at the least one level, it was evident the staff was skating with a special vitality with its star again within the lineup.
“He is an elite participant within the league,” Cassidy mentioned of Eichel. “He is excited to play once more. He was having I might say an All-Star-type of 12 months when he began. Would possibly nonetheless be within the combine.”
The Knights have received three straight and 4 in a row at house, the place they struggled to win at occasions in the course of the first half. Vegas improved to 12-9-0 at house, the place it would play its subsequent six video games.
Ty Smith scored early within the third for Pittsburgh, his first of the season, and Sidney Crosby added his twentieth with 1:30 to go. Casey DeSmith made 26 stops.
Kessel opened the scoring towards his former staff when he punched house Cotter’s cross into the online lower than two minutes into the sport. Eichel to made his presence identified shortly thereafter, beating DeSmith with a fast wrist shot on a breakaway down the precise aspect of the slot.
Stephenson’s one-timer over DeSmith’s glove halfway by means of the primary made it 3-0.
The Penguins dominated the second interval, outshooting Vegas 20-12, however could not resolve Hill. As an alternative, it was Vegas extending its lead with simply 11 seconds left when Stone deflected Brayden McNabb’s shot previous DeSmith.
Pittsburgh spoiled the shutout bid within the third when Smith completed a drop cross within the excessive slot and snapped it previous Hill.
Cotter’s late aim supplied the ultimate margin.
“We’re a greater hockey staff than that. We confirmed it within the second and the third, however we did not give ourselves an opportunity as a result of we did not play effectively sufficient within the first,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan mentioned. “I am positive everybody concerned is pissed off as a result of our expectations are excessive. When you do not dwell as much as them … that is one of many feelings you take care of.”