Golden Game Gist: Remaining VGK Stars Elevate Their Game, Win in Winnipeg

Another road game and another win as the Vegas Golden Knights (20-9-1, 41 points) defeated the Winnipeg Jets (18-8-1, 37 points) 6-5 on Tuesday. Without key players in their lineup, Mark Stone, Chandler Stephenson, and Jonathan Marchessault upped their game and got the VGK a win. Defensemen Daniil Miromanov scored three points, including his first NHL goal. 

GOLDEN KNIGHTS LINEUP

Injuries to Brett Howden, Jack Eichel, Shea Theodore, and Zach Whitecloud forced a shakeup. Brayden Pachal got the call on the team's third defensive pair with Ben Hutton, who was playing his off-side. Michael Amadio remained in the lineup despite the team recalling Jonas Rondbjerg. Adin Hill got his third start of the season against the Winnipeg Jets.

Paul Cotter- Chandler Stephenson- Mark Stone (c)

Reilly Smith- William Karlsson- Jonathan Marchessault

Michael Amadio- Jake Leschyshyn- Phil Kessel

William Carrier- Nicolas Roy- Keegan Kolesar

Alec Martinez- Nicolas Hague

Brayden McNabb- Daniil Miromanov

Ben Hutton- Brayden Pachal

Adin Hill/Logan Thompson

Out: Alex Pietrangelo/Shea Theodore, Brett Howden, Zach Whitecloud, Jack Eichel/Jonas Rondbjerg, Kaedan Korczak

FIRST PERIOD

• Chandler Stephenson got the first chance for the Golden Knights, skating around Pierre Luc-Dubois after receiving an aerial pass from Alec Martinez and Mark Stone. Stephenson's knack for using his speed to create chances would be a constant all night.
• Adin Hill bailed out Alec Martinez, who lost an edge and fell, knocking down Daniil Miromanov too. Cole Perfetti's shot was stopped by Hill.
• The Jets trapped the Golden Knights in their own zone for extended periods of time early. The VGK were having trouble breaking out and iced the puck a handful of times. This was to be expected, with the team missing three of their top six defensemen.
• Reilly Smith made a brutal turnover to Jansen Harkins in his own zone, but Adin Hill came up with the stop.
• 1-0 WPG GOAL- The Jets won a faceoff and got the puck back to their leading scorer, Josh Morrissey. His shot was deflected by Mark Scheifele.
• Chandler Stephenson once again used his speed to get a scoring chance but was stopped by Connor Hellebuyck.
• 1-1 VGK GOAL- Reilly Smith cut into the Jets zone, circled back, and waited for reinforcements. He found one in Daniil Miromanov, who scored off Smith's pass for his first NHL goal 2:08 seconds after the Jet's first NHL goal.

• The Golden Knight's offense started to come off the rush as they caught the Jet's defensemen flat-footed.
• The pace for the VGK greatly picked up in the second half of the period. They led in shots 15-7 after one.
• 2-1 VGK GOAL- With 1.6 seconds left in the period, Mark Stone scored on a rebound from a Nicolas Hague shot. The VGK did a great job forechecking to try and get one last chance before the buzzer.

SECOND PERIOD

• VGK PP- Good pressure from the third line led to Dylan Samberg tripping Michael Amadio and the Golden Knight's first powerplay.
• Daniil Miromanov almost had his second point as his shot went through the legs of Connor Hellebuyck. Chandler Stephenson was barely unable to get to the loose puck, and the Jets dodged a bullet.
• 2-2 WPG GOAL- Morgan Barron scored, following up on his own rebound to knot the game.
• 3-2 VGK GOAL- The tenaciousness of Chandler Stephenson continued in the second. He stole the puck from Nate Schmidt at the blue line and used his speed for another chance. Mark Stone got the eventual goal as Stephenson found him joining the play. This was Stone's second goal of the night and career point no. 500 for the Golden Knight's captain.

• 3-3 WPG GOAL- Just 39 seconds later, Sam Gagner tipped in a point shot to re-tie the game.
• Bruce Cassidy appeared to make a lineup change, switching Paul Cotter and Phil Kessel. 
• WPG PP- Alec Martinez's slash broke the stick of David Gustafsson. The Jets started the third period on the powerplay.

THIRD PERIOD

• 4-3 VGK GOAL- On the carryover powerplay, the Jets scored. Mark Scheifele scored after the Golden Knights failed to clear the puck on the PK.
• Back on the first line again, Paul Cotter had a decent shot opportunity, fed by Mark Stone.
• VGK PP- Blake Wheeler put the puck over the glass.
• 4-4 VGK GOAL- Jonathan Marchessault found a hole and buried a shot on Connor Hellebuyck on the powerplay.

• Kyle Connor was stopped right at the doorstep by Adin Hill.
• WPG PP- Ben Hutton went off for a high stick. The Golden Knights came up with a big penalty kill.
• Ben Hutton hit Will Carrier with a shot accidentally.
• VGK PP- Phil Kessel drew a penalty, trying to split the Jet's defense. Neal Pionk was called for a hook.
• 5-4 VGK GOAL- Jonathan Marchessault once again scored on the powerplay to give the Golden Knights the lead with just 2:16 remaining in the game. With this goal, Marchessault has passed Jack Eichel for the team lead in goals with 14 on the season.
• 6-4 VGK GOAL- William Karlsson added an insurance empty-net goal, and the Golden Knights won 6-5.
• 6-5 WPG GOAL- Mark Scheifele finished his hat-trick in the losing effort.

VHN's Player of the Game: Chandler Stephenson.

A man on a mission, Stephenson, was flying all night, using his speed to generate chances.

Up Next: The Golden Knight's final road game before Christmas will come on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. against the Chicago Blackhawks.