Vegas Golden Knights win 3-1

The Vegas Golden Knights left Denver with a 3-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche in Game 2 on Friday night and a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference final. Ivan Barbashev scored twice, including the go-ahead goal, and Jack Eichel tied the game in the third period as Vegas erased a 1-0 deficit at Ball Arena. Carter Hart made 29 saves for the Golden Knights, who also won Game 1, 4-2. The series now shifts to Las Vegas for Game 3 on Sunday. ### How did Vegas flip a game it trailed after two periods? Colorado led 1-0 after Ross Colton scored, and Vegas was still behind entering the third period. Eichel tied the game at 9:15 of the third, and Barbashev put Vegas ahead at 11:22, giving the Golden Knights the tying and winning goals within 2:07. Barbashev added an empty-net goal at 18:57 for the 3-1 final. (nhl.com) NHL.com said Vegas scored all three of its goals in the third period. AP reported the quick Eichel-Barbashev sequence turned the game and gave the Golden Knights a 2-0 series edge. ### Who drove the comeback for the Golden Knights? Ivan Barbashev finished with two goals and an assist, while Jack Eichel had a goal and an assist. (nhl.com) Pavel Dorofeyev added two assists on the night, according to NHL.com. Carter Hart stopped 29 shots after making 36 saves in Vegas’ 4-2 win in Game 1, as cited in earlier coverage from ESPN and CBS Sports. John Tortorella, Vegas’ coach, said the turning point came earlier than the scoring burst. “I thought the key part of the game was... a real struggle in the second period for us but we still entered the locker room just down 1-0,” he told NHL.com after the win. (nhl.com) ### What did Vegas players say after taking two games in Denver? Ivan Barbashev said Vegas stayed with its approach. “We just played simple,” he told NHL.com. “I think we've been a really good third-period team all season long.” Dylan Coghlan said the Golden Knights had targeted two road wins to open the series. “Our goal was to come here and get two,” he told NHL.com. “We weren't satisfied with the split.” (nhl.com) ### How much trouble is Colorado in now? The Avalanche, the top seed from the Central Division and Western Conference, are down 2-0 after losing both home games. (nhl.com) AP described Colorado as facing “serious danger” after the loss, while USA Today noted Vegas rallied against a Colorado team missing Cale Makar. Scott Wedgewood made 22 saves for Colorado in Game 2, according to NHL.com. Ross Colton had the Avalanche’s only goal. ### What comes next in the series? Game 3 is set for Sunday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. NHL.com listed the start time at 8 p.m. ET, with ESPN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports and CBC carrying the game. (cbssports.com) Vegas will take its 2-0 series lead home after opening the matchup with wins by scores of 4-2 and 3-1. (nhl.com)