The Vegas Golden Knights capitalized on two power-play goals in captain Mark Stone’s return from injury, securing a 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars on Friday night.
Tomas Hertl and Jack Eichel each scored with the man advantage for Vegas, while Nicolas Roy added an even-strength tally. Shea Theodore recorded two assists, and Adin Hill made 37 saves, extending his strong form with a 6-1-1 record over his past eight starts.
Mavrik Bourque and Mason Marchment scored for Dallas, and Jake Oettinger stopped 25 shots.
After missing nearly a month with a pulled muscle, Stone returned to the lineup, playing on the top line alongside Eichel and Ivan Barbashev. He marked his return with a primary assist on Hertl’s first-period goal.
This game marked the first team meeting since the Stars eliminated the Golden Knights in seven games during last season’s playoffs.
Takeaways
Stars: Discipline was an issue for Dallas, as they committed multiple penalties, including a double minor, while on their own power play, giving Vegas a 5-on-3 opportunity.
Golden Knights: Despite Dallas registering 39 shots on goal, Vegas’ defense effectively kept the Stars shooting from the perimeter. It was the third consecutive game in which the Golden Knights’ defense dictated the play.
Key Moment
With Dallas’ Jamie Benn serving a double minor for high sticking, Eichel fired a shot from the left circle to give Vegas a 2-1 lead with 4:20 remaining in the second period, a goal that proved to be the game-winner.
Key Stat
Vegas converted 2 of 6 power-play opportunities. Entering the game, the Golden Knights ranked sixth in the NHL in power-play efficiency (26.6%), while the Stars’ penalty kill ranked fifth at 83.1%.
Up Next
The Stars return home to host the Calgary Flames on Sunday. The Golden Knights travel to Winnipeg for a Thursday matchup.
