Seth Jarvis and Stefan Noesen scored in the first seven minutes of the third period to lift the Carolina Hurricanes to a 3-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday night.
Andrei Svechnikov also scored for the Hurricanes, who have now won seven of their last nine games and were playing the second game back-to-back. Jarvis added an assist, and Spencer Martin made 29 saves.
Jonathan Marchessault scored for the Golden Knights, who suffered their first home loss of the season to a Metropolitan Division team after winning their first five such matchups. Adin Hill stopped 25 shots.
Carolina swept the two-game season series against Vegas and improved to 4-2 at T-Mobile Arena.
Marchessault gave the Knights an early lead with a rebound goal midway through the first period, extending his goal streak to three games. Nicolas Roy provided the primary assist, extending his career-high point streak to eight games. Roy’s 30 points this season match his total from last year in 21 fewer games. Together with Ivan Barbashev, their line has recorded at least one point in 11 consecutive games.
The Golden Knights had several opportunities to extend their lead, but Martin’s stellar performance, including 12 saves in the first period, kept them at bay.
“Spencer Martin was the difference,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “He kept us in the first period when we were not very good. I thought they were perfect and playing their game.”
Svechnikov rewarded Martin’s efforts by scoring on a rush from the slot 1:21 into the second period to tie the game.
Another early goal, this time 19 seconds into the third period, put the Hurricanes ahead for good. After Knights defenseman Daniil Miromanov failed to control the puck at the blue line, Jarvis capitalized with a short-handed goal.
“I saw the bouncing puck, so there’s no point in not trying to get it,” Jarvis said. “Using my speed, I almost fell going to the net. I could keep it together and moved, and the puck went in.”
This goal also highlighted the Hurricanes’ strong penalty kill. Carolina is 17 for 17 on the PK over the past five games, and it was the 14th time in 18 games that they did not allow a power-play goal.
“We all trust our PK,” Noesen said. “Our PK’s been pretty good. We struggled a little bit to start the year, then we turned it around. … Us being down a man, sometimes it’s a kick-starter for us.”
The Hurricanes extended their lead at 6:19 into the final period when Noesen batted in the puck. Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy chose not to challenge the goal.
“That was a good goal; that’s why we didn’t challenge,” Cassidy said. “If he knocks it directly into the net and the stick’s over the crossbar, we would challenge because that wouldn’t be a good goal. The fact that he knocked it down back into play and then into the net made it a good goal.”
Vegas defenseman Alec Martinez, who has won three Stanley Cups (two with the Los Angeles Kings and one with the Knights), skated in his 800th career game.
Mark Stone’s 11-game home point streak ended, leaving him tied with Reilly Smith for the club record.
UP NEXT
- Hurricanes: Host Chicago on Monday.
- Golden Knights: Visit San Jose on Monday.
