Nick Cousins made an immediate impact in his Vegas Golden Knights debut, scoring a key goal just hours after arriving in town. Cousins, acquired from Montreal at the trade deadline, helped the Golden Knights secure a 3-0 win over the Edmonton Oilers in a crucial Pacific Division matchup on Wednesday night.
“When I found out I was coming to a first-place team, I was excited to contribute in any way I could,” Cousins said.
Despite feeling the effects of travel, Cousins settled in by the second period and became the 10th player in Golden Knights history to score in their debut. His goal came midway through the third period on a power play, extending Vegas’ lead to 2-0 and giving the team all the momentum they needed to seal the victory.
“In the first period, my head was spinning a little, but I got more comfortable as the game went on,” Cousins said. “When I start making plays and holding onto the puck more, that’s when I play my best.”
Max Pacioretty and Shea Theodore also found the back of the net, while Marc-Andre Fleury made 29 saves to earn his 61st career shutout, tying him for 17th on the NHL’s all-time list with Turk Broda. Fleury, now 5-0-0 in his last five starts, credited his teammates for their strong play in front of him.
“I haven’t changed much in my game, but the guys in front of me have been great, and that’s made me look better,” Fleury said. “Winning helps build confidence.”
The win extended Vegas’ streak to seven games and solidified their place atop the Pacific Division, four points ahead of Edmonton and Vancouver.
Under head coach Peter DeBoer, who took over on Jan. 15, the Golden Knights have surged with an 11-3-2 record. They lead the league in shots per game (35.7) and rank third in shots allowed (27.6), while their offense has been clicking with a 3.75 goals-per-game average since DeBoer’s arrival.
“We’re finding different ways to win,” said defenseman Nate Schmidt. “Whether it’s dominating offensively or playing solid defense like tonight, it’s all coming together.”
After a challenging first period in which they were outshot 12-9, the Golden Knights took control in the second, adjusting to Edmonton’s pace and creating scoring opportunities through strong defense and transition play. They also shut down the Oilers’ league-best power play, killing off all three of Edmonton’s opportunities.
“We played well in the first but couldn’t capitalize,” said Oilers coach Dave Tippett. “Vegas put the pressure on in the second, and we couldn’t recover.”
Pacioretty opened the scoring with his 30th goal of the season, marking the fifth 30-goal campaign of his career. Theodore made it 3-0 in the third with a shot from the point, set up by Alec Martinez, who now has six points in four games since joining the Golden Knights.
Game Notes:
- Oilers forward Andreas Athanasiou left the game in the third period with a lower-body injury and did not return.
- Mikko Koskinen made 30 saves for Edmonton.
- Vegas went 1-for-3 on the power play, while Edmonton was 0-for-3.
Up Next:
- Oilers: Host Winnipeg on Saturday.
- Golden Knights: Host Buffalo on Friday.