William Karlsson’s go-ahead goal early in the third period lifted the Vegas Golden Knights to a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night, continuing their hot streak with six wins in their last seven games.
Karlsson’s sixth goal of the season came dramatically as he skated along the goal line, banked a shot off Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen’s stick, corralled the rebound, and buried it into the opposite side of the net.
Alex Pietrangelo tied the game in the second period with his third goal of the season, and Brett Howden sealed the win with an empty-net goal in the final minute. Adin Hill made 19 saves, improving to 14-5-2 on the season.
Teddy Blueger scored the lone goal for Vancouver, while Lankinen stopped 19 shots for the Canucks, who were unable to convert on either of their two power-play opportunities.
The Golden Knights, who sit atop the Pacific Division, have showcased their dominance late in games, outscoring opponents 44-23 in the third period this season—leading the league in final-period goal differential.
Takeaways
Canucks: Vancouver entered the game with the NHL’s fifth-best road power play, converting at a 27.9% clip. However, they went 0-for-2 on the man advantage, missing key opportunities to keep pace with Vegas.
Golden Knights: Vegas tightened defensively in the second period, allowing just two shots on goal while outshooting Vancouver 9-2. Their disciplined play kept the game within reach until Karlsson’s pivotal goal.
Key Moment
After Karlsson put the Golden Knights ahead, Vegas faced a critical penalty kill when Pavel Dorofeyev was called for high sticking. The penalty kill unit successfully shut down Vancouver’s power play, maintaining the 2-1 lead.
Key Stat
Vegas has outscored opponents by a league-leading margin of +21 in the third period, demonstrating their ability to finish games strong.
Up Next
The Canucks return home to face the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, while the Golden Knights host the Seattle Kraken that same evening to continue their three-game homestand.
