Golden Knights Stunned By Devils’ Hamilton Late, Lose in OT

The Vegas Golden Knights (29-17-3, 61 points) picked up a point but lost in overtime to the New Jersey Devils (31-12-4, 66 points) Tuesday night 3-2. The VGK have now lost four of their last five games.

The Golden Knights put together a strong second period, with a fight and two goals. However, the relentless high-flying offense of the Devils tied the game ith 1:10 remaining and then scored in overtime. Dougie Hamilton had both the game-tying and game-winning goals.

Brett Howden made his return to the lineup after missing 27 games with a lower-body injury.

FIRST PERIOD

• Some line combination scuffling was required due to Brett Howden's return. Paul Cotter and Nicolas Roy moved up to the third line to play with Phil Kessel. Logan Thompson made his third-straight start and played in this third game in four days.
• A pass to Jonathan Marchessault, which would have set him up on a breakaway, just rolled off his stick.
• 1-0 NJD GOAL- Ondrej Palat flipped a puck to the net, which hit Kaedan Korczak's stick and went in for a goal.
• The Misfits had a 3-on-2 rush but missed the net on their shot attempt from William Karlsson.
• Logan Thompson made a stellar sprawling save on Nico Hischier to keep the game 1-0.
• Another big save was made by Logan Thompson as Jesper Boqvist followed up on a rebound chance.

SECOND PERIOD

• Dougie Hamilton turned the puck over at his own blue line to Reilly Smith but was able to backcheck in time to break up the play.
• FIGHT- Keegan Kolesar was hit from behind by Nathan Bastian, and Brett Howden came to his defense, fighting Bastian in his 2nd career NHL fight.

• VGK PP- Nathan Bastian got an extra two-minute penalty for boarding Keegan Kolesar.
• Vitek Vanecek made a huge sprawling save on Michael Amadio, who was fed the puck in the slot.
• 1-1 VGK GOAL- Ben Hutton joined the Golden Knight's offensive cycle and fired a pin missile wrist shot upstairs.

• 2-1 VGK GOAL- Off the rush, the Misfit Line of Reilly Smith, Jonathan Marchessault, and William Karlsson scored. Karlsson stuffed in the puck after Marchessault made a nifty move around Vitek Vanecek.

• The Golden Knights put together a strong defensive second period. When tested, Logan Thompson was on.
• VGK PP- Ondrej Palat hit Alec Martinez from behind and took the second boarding call of the game for the Devils.

THIRD PERIOD

• After taking the hit from behind by Ondrej Palat, Alec Martinez was not on the VGK bench to start the third period. He was able to return later on.
• Compared to the last game, the Golden Knight's slot coverage was solid. But it still had a few gaffs as Dawson Mercer got a grade-a chance right on the doorstep in front of Logan Thompson. He missed the goal with his shot, and the VGK dodged a bullet.
• Vitek Vanecek stoned Jonathan Marchessault with a big save after William Karlsson found Marchy from below the goal.
• VGK PP- Reilly Smith's brother, Brendan, was called for hooking Jack Eichel.
• Alec Martinez made a brutal turnover to Jack Hughes, but he missed the net on his shot attempt.
• 2-2 NJD GOAL- With just 1:10 left and the net empty, Dougie Hamilton threw a puck on the net, and it deflected in.

OVERTIME

• NJD PP- Ben Hutton got his stick in between the legs of Yegor Sharangovich, and the Devils got their first powerplay of the game in overtime, 4 on 3. 
• Lindy Ruff and the Devils utilized their timeout before the powerplay.
• 3-2 NJD GOAL- The same man who tied the game up, Dougie Hamilton, stepped into a slap shot and scored the overtime winner.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS NOTES

• Brett Howden showed his fight in his first game back into the lineup, literally, as he stood up for his teammate, Keegan Kolesar.
• The Devils produced two dirty hits from behind. One from Nathan Bastian and another from Ondrej Palat.
• It was another night where the Golden Knight's offense seemed to live or die on the play of the Misfit Line.
• Both goaltenders were great, and none of the Devils' goals can be put on Logan Thompson.
• After a bad showing against the Arizona Coyotes, the Golden Knights defended the slot much better Tuesday night.

VHN's Player of the Game: Brett Howden

Up Next: The Golden Knights will continue their New York trip Thursday against the Rangers at 4:00 p.m.