Shea Theodore netted the decisive goal in the fourth shootout round, lifting the Vegas Golden Knights to a 4-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Friday night.
Jonathan Marchessault scored twice and added an assist, while Jack Eichel also found the back of the net for the Western Conference-leading Golden Knights. Vegas has now won eight of their last 11 games (8-1-2). Adin Hill made a career-high 46 saves to secure the win.
“Tonight was kind of a playoff-type game,” Hill said. “I’m glad we got the win. They have some good players and a lot of skill in their lineup. They’re a fast team.”
Coach Bruce Cassidy noted that the Golden Knights struggled to handle the Devils’ speed, as they were outshot 16-4 in the first period and fell behind 2-1.
“Tonight, we weren’t prepared to play, but Adin sure was,” Cassidy said. “It was a great performance. Good for Adin; he was really on tonight.”
Dawson Mercer, Jesper Bratt, and Miles Wood scored for New Jersey, which is 9-2-2 in its last 13 games. Akira Schmid recorded 25 saves.
After an overtime period in which New Jersey outshot Vegas 8-0, the first seven shooters in the shootout were stopped before Theodore beat Schmid for the win.
Wood tied the game at 3-3 with 7:07 left in the third, converting the rebound of his own shot in front after a centering pass from Jesper Boqvist.
Eichel had given the Golden Knights a 3-2 lead 3:47 into the third, beating Schmid through the five-hole after a pass from Marchessault on a 2-on-1 rush.
Marchessault opened the scoring 7:48 into the game, recording his 400th career point (178 goals, 222 assists).
Bratt tied it 1-1 on a power play with his 25th goal of the season, and Mercer put the Devils ahead with 28 seconds left in the first period, scoring in his eighth straight game.
“I liked how we started the game,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. “But their goalie made a couple of big saves.”
Marchessault tied the game 2-2 with his 19th goal of the season with 7:10 remaining in the second period.
NOTES
- Mercer’s eight-game goal streak is the longest in the league this year.
- The Golden Knights have won eight straight games at home, with their last home loss on Jan. 19, a 3-2 defeat to Detroit.
- Knights forward William Carrier left the game near the end of the first period with what Cassidy called a “lower-body injury.” Cassidy expects to have a better idea of Carrier’s status on Saturday.
- It was the Knights’ fourth overtime game in their last six contests.
- The Devils remain one of only two teams — along with Toronto — that hasn’t been shut out this season.
UP NEXT
- Devils: At Arizona on Sunday to finish a three-game trip.
- Golden Knights: Host Montreal on Sunday to finish a three-game homestand.
