Vegas Breaks 3-Game Skid in OT
The Golden Knights stormed back to defeat Detroit 4-3 in overtime, snapping a three-game losing streak. Vegas fought back from a deficit with late goals to secure the crucial home win.
The comeback victory in Detroit snapped a frustrating five-game road trip for the Golden Knights. Before the win, Vegas had dropped games to the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins, continuing a trend of struggling against teams in playoff position. Tomas Hertl netted the game-winner on a power play 2:11 into overtime, capping a multi-point night for him (1G, 1A). Mitch Marner, who also had a three-point game (1G, 2A), scored the crucial tying goal with just 3:24 left in regulation. Ivan Barbashev started the third-period rally, cutting Detroit's lead to 3-2. The win provided a much-needed two points, giving Vegas some breathing room atop the Pacific Division standings. However, the team has been a mixed bag this season, leading their division while ranking just 12th overall in the NHL and trailing other division leaders by a significant margin. A significant concern for the Golden Knights has been their performance in extra time; they are tied for the league lead in overtime losses with 14. Another area of struggle has been their record against teams holding a playoff spot, with this victory being a rare exception in recent months. The team was playing without captain Mark Stone, who missed his second consecutive game with an upper-body injury. In his absence, newly-acquired winger Cole Smith made his debut for Vegas. Goaltender Adin Hill made 23 saves to earn the win. The victory was a reversal of recent fortune for Hill, who had a 3.77 goals-against average and an .846 save percentage in his previous nine outings. Following the dramatic road trip finale, the Golden Knights will return home for a two-game homestand against the Minnesota Wild and the Edmonton Oilers.
