Jack Eichel scored just over a minute into the game, and the Vegas Golden Knights maintained their lead to defeat the Detroit Red Wings 4-1 on Saturday night.
Phil Kessel contributed a goal and an assist, while Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith also found the back of the net for Vegas. The Golden Knights secured their second win in five games, with Adin Hill making 24 saves for his first victory in four starts.
“I thought that was a real responsible, professional road game,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “We managed the puck, took advantage of some opportunities, bent but didn’t break in some spots, got a timely power-play goal, had some good kills late, and got a few big saves.”
Eichel exited early in the third period with an undisclosed injury, but the team hopes he won’t miss any games.
“If there’s one guy who wants to play in Boston on Monday, it’s Jack,” Cassidy noted.
Oskar Sundqvist scored his third goal in two games for Detroit, while Ville Husso stopped 21 shots. The Red Wings lost in regulation for the second time in eight games (4-2-2).
“Our margin of error is skinny against anyone,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said. “It’s even less against these top teams.”
Eichel scored at 1:04 of the first period, tapping in a backhanded pass from Chandler Stephenson for his 13th goal of the season.
Both teams, among the least penalized in the league, saw their first penalty at 7:16 of the second period when Detroit’s Jordan Oesterle was called for tripping. Marchessault capitalized with his ninth goal, lifting the puck over Husso’s shoulder from the right circle at 7:50.
The Red Wings responded on their first power play as Sundqvist scored on a rebound from a Dominik Kubalik shot with 8:23 left in the second period.
After serving a penalty, Kessel exited the box and scored on a breakaway with 3:28 left in the second, making it 3-1. Kessel’s goal was his 17th career goal against Detroit in 31 games.
“We were on a power play, and they got out of the box and got a breakaway,” Larkin said. “Kessel’s going to make us pay, and he did. That one hurts because we’re trying to tie it up.”
Smith sealed the victory with an empty-net goal with 3 minutes remaining. This win was crucial for Vegas after squandering a one-goal lead in a 4-3 loss to Pittsburgh on Thursday.
“This was a big game for us after losing in Pittsburgh,” Hill said. “The guys were great in front of me, and the forwards did a good job getting the puck behind their defensemen. When they got the puck, they had to come 200 feet against us.”
NOTES
The Red Wings were playing their first game since forward Tyler Bertuzzi, a 30-goal scorer last season, was placed on injured reserve due to a hand injury requiring surgery. Eichel has recorded a point in 15 of the previous 18 games. Vegas (eight games) and expansion Seattle (two games) are the only teams that Detroit’s Dylan Larkin hasn’t scored against in his career.
UP NEXT
- Golden Knights: At Boston on Monday night to wrap up a four-game trip.
- Red Wings: At Columbus on Sunday to begin a four-game trip.
