Golden Knights Get Much Needed Win, Crush Capitals

LAS VEGAS— The Vegas Golden Knights (29-16-2, 58 points) snapped a three-game losing streak with a big 6-2 performance against the Washington Capitals (25-18-6, 56 points). This marked the last game of the season series, with the Golden Knights sweeping it 2-0.

It also marked the last time the Golden Knights wore their reverse retro jerseys for the season. The Golden Knights were brought to the ice by Make-a-Wish 8-year-old Anabelle Hanson, who joined the team for the last two practices. They also wore special Lunar New Year jerseys during warmups.

No lineup changes were made outside of Phil Kessel and Michael Amadio switching in the forward lineup and Nicolas Hague and Alec Martinez on defense. Logan Thompson started. Alex Ovechkin did not play for the Capitals.

FIRST PERIOD

• 1-0 VGK GOAL- Chandler Stephenson rang a shot off the post. The rebound went right to Alec Martinez, who scored.

• The goal marked both the first goal of the season for Alec Martinez and the first time the Golden Knights have led in three games.
• For the first time in a long time, the VGK started the game off with some relentless offensive chances, backed by a great forecheck.
• 2-0 VGK GOAL- Nicolas Roy scored on a 2-on-1 after receiving a pass from Jonathan Marchessault.

• Even when the Golden Knights made some defensive mistakes, they made up for it with several well-placed stick plays.
• VGK PP- Anthony Mantha tripped up Alex Pietrangelo, which sent the Golden Knights to the powerplay.
• 4 on 4- Phil Kessel ran into Darcy Kuemper and negated the powerplay with a goaltender interference penalty.
• The Misfits went off in transition and went tic-tac-toe for a chance, but were stopped by Darcy Kuemper.
• WSH PP- Keegan Kolesar was called for tripping defensemen Alexander Aleveyev. The Golden Knights killed the penalty that bled into the second.

SECOND PERIOD

• Reilly Smith fanned on a pass from Jonathan Marchessault off the rush with a yawning cage.
• 3-0 VGK GOAL- Chandler Stephenson made a nice pass to Michael Amadio in the slot, who handled the puck and scored.

• Logan Thompson didn't have a lot of action in the first period, but he remained sharp with a big glove save on Erik Gustafsson.
• Paul Cotter leveled Dimitry Orlov with a huge open-ice hit. The Golden Knights continued to dominate the game.
• 4-0 VGK GOAL- The offensive onslaught continued for the Golden Knights as Byron Froese pinballed in his first VGK goal.

• After the goal, Darcy Kuemper was pulled in favor of Charlie Lindgren.
• 5-0 VGK GOAL- It didn't take long for Charlie Lindgren to allow his first goal. A Capitals turnover resulted in a Paul Cotter goal.

• 4-on-4- Frustrated, the first Tom Wilson-led scrum of the game started, and both Wilson and Nicolas Hague went to the box.
• 5-1 WSH GOAL- The Capitals managed to get one, as TJ Oshie scored tipped in a shot pass.

THIRD PERIOD

• The Golden Knights closed out the game with a strong third period, not taking their foot off the gas.
• 6-1 VGK GOAL- The Capitals made yet another brutal defensive turnover, and Paul Cotter capitalized with his second goal of the game.

• WSH PP- Brayden McNabb was called for high sticking. The Golden Knights came up with the kill.
• 6-2 WSH GOAL- Marcus Johansson tipped in a point shot from Trevor van Riemsdyk.
• The Golden Knights closed out the game and snapped their three-game losing streak.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS NOTES

• The Golden Knights got exactly the type of game they needed Saturday night to snap their losing streak.
• Depth scoring showed up for the VGK as Byron Froese, Jonas Rondbjerg, and Alec Martinez all found the score sheet.
• Second all-time in goals scored, forward Alex Ovechkin missed the game with a lower-body injury.
• Starts have been an area of issue for the Golden Knights lately, and with two big goals in the first period, the VGK got off to a great start.
• The Golden Knights wore their reverse retro jerseys for the eighth and final time of the season Saturday night.
• The seven-game homestand at T-Mobile Arena has concluded, and the Golden Knights finish it off 3-4. They will now not be back to play at the Fortress until Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 12th, against the Anaheim Ducks at noon.

VHN's Player of the Game: Anabelle Hanson

Undoubtedly a major motivator to the Golden Knights tonight. More on her in the postgame story.

Up Next: The Golden Knights will get their first taste of the Arizona Coyotes' new Mullett Arena on Sunday with a game at 5:00 p.m.