by LAS VEGAS – The Golden Knights won for the sixth time in seven games on Thursday night as they defeated the Vancouver Canucks 3-1.
Alex Pietrangelo, William Karlsson and Brett Howden scored for Vegas, while goaltender Adin Hill stopped 19 shots and improved to 14-5-2.
With 45 points, Vegas extended its lead in the Pacific Division to three over second-place Los Angeles.
The Golden Knights are now two points behind NHL leaders Winnipeg and tied with New Jersey for the second-most points in the league.
Here are three takeaways from Thursday’s win:
MURDERER – Vancouver came to Las Vegas with the fifth-best away power play in the league, but finished the game 0-for-2 with a man advantage against the Golden Knights. Vegas has allowed just one power play goal in its last seven games and two in its last 11 games. The Golden Knights are 18 for 20 with their PK during that period.
“Obviously I discussed a lot of their power plays and the look they would like to have,” Howden said. “Ultimately I thought we did a good job of keeping up and limiting them.”
THE SALVATION – Not long after the Canucks took a 1-0 lead in the first period, Hill saved the ball with a brilliant save that kept the score intact while stopping Vancouver’s momentum at the goal.
After battling for the puck behind the net to Hill’s right, Canucks winger Conor Garland brought the puck to the center of Dakota Joshua, who released it to Pius Suter on the doorstep. But Suter’s shot couldn’t be blocked as Hill fell back to his left to block the shot.
“You follow the puck with your eyes, and when the pass went to the guy who then pushed it across, I know the guy is a backdoor player, but I have to kind of respect the shot,” Hill said. “I’m just playing my position and a little bit of desperation.”
Rule in the third period – The Golden Knights remain the league’s best team in the third period with a goal difference of plus-21 after defeating Vancouver 2-0 in the final period on Thursday.
According to Stathead.com, the Golden Knights have outscored their opponents in the third period in 15 of their 32 games by a 44-23 point margin.
