Golden Knights Star Players Wake Up in Win Over Wild

A four-goal second period propelled the Vegas Golden Knights (31-18-4, 66 points) to a 5-1 win over the Minnesota Wild (27-20-4, 58 points) Thursday night. The Golden Knights have still never lost a game in regulation during a dad's trip, as they are now 7-0-1.

Several Golden Knights players ended scoring streaks, such as Jack Eichel, Reilly Smith, and Paul Cotter.

The Golden Knights remain in first place in the Pacific Division, now with 66 points.

No lineup changes were made by head coach Bruce Cassidy outside of Logan Thompson. However, Thompson left the game in the third period with an apparent left leg injury as he overextended himself. He did not return to the game, and Adin Hill replaced him in the third period.

FIRST PERIOD

• Both teams struggled to generate anything special offensively at the start of the game.
• Whilst falling, Ryan Hartman's skate hit Logan Thompson in the mask, but equipment prevented any injury.
• 1-0 VGK GOAL- Entering the zone, Nicolas Roy fired a shot that fooled Marc-Andre Fleury five-hole.

• The fourth line of Nicolas Roy, Keegan Kolesar, and Brett Howden continued to put solid pressure on the Wild.
• Joel Eriksson Ek and Jordan Greenway went off on an odd-man rush. Logan Thompson stopped the shot.
• Matt Boldy accepted a pass at the Golden Knight's blue line, went in on Logan Thompson, and ripped a slap shot, which was stopped. 
• Logan Thompson followed it up with another save on Sam Steel in the goal crease.
• Alec Martinez made a strong defensive play as he backchecked against Ryan Hartman to prevent a shot.

SECOND PERIOD

• Brett Howden and Nicolas Roy got a quick chance to start the second period. Howden's shot was stopped by the left shoulder of Marc-Andre Fleury.
• 2-0 VGK GOAL- Alex Pietrangelo's point shot hit a Wild defenseman and went in.

• Logan Thompson made several saves up close on Jared Spurgeon and Jacob Middleton.
• MIN PP- Chandler Stephenson was called for holding.
• 2-1 MIN GOAL- Just 13 seconds into the Wild's powerplay, Kirill Kaprizov scored. 
• The Wild got some momentum from the powerplay goal and took the lead in shots, landing eight straight.
• Michael Amadio was robbed by Marc-Andre Fleury after he received a cross-ice pass on a 2-on-1 from Chandler Stephenson.
• A couple of scrums started to break out after both goaltenders freezer the pucks.
• 3-1 VGK GOAL- Jack Eichel rushed to the net and created space for Paul Cotter, who he then found in front of the net for a goal.

• PENALTY SHOT- Reilly Smith split the D and went to the net on a breakaway but was slashed by Alex Goligoski.
• 4-1 VGK GOAL- On the penalty shot, Reilly Smith scored five-hole on Marc-Andre Fleury.

• 5-1 VGK GOAL- Just 20 seconds later, Jack Eichel ripped a wrist shot and scored.

• MIN PP- William Karlsson accidentally hit Ryan Hartman in the face with a high stick.
• The Golden Knights closed out their four-goal second period leading in shots 23-22.

THIRD PERIOD

• Filip Gustavsson came out to start the third period as Marc-Andre Fleury was yanked.
• INJURY- Logan Thompson was forced to make some sprawling back-and-forth saves and appeared to pull something. He left the game unable to put any weight on his left leg. Adin Hill came into the game for the VGK.

• VGK PP- Matthew Boldy was called for holding Nicolas Hague.
• The Golden Knights did not score on the powerplay and are now in a 1/19 slump.
• Alec Martinez took a high stick to the face, left the game, but was able to return

GOLDEN KNIGHTS NOTES

• Players were ending scoring streaks all around as Jack Eichel ended a nine-game goal drought and six-game pointless. Paul Cotter ended a five-game point and goal drought. Jonathan Marchessault ended a three-game point skid, and Reilly Smith scored for the first time in 13 games.
• The Golden Knights look like they really benefited from the All-Star Break, as they have now won two games in a row, scoring five goals.
• It was a pretty even game halfway through until a four-goal second period propelled the Golden Knights to a victory. The Wild have been struggling to score, as they have scored just seven even-strength goals in their last eight games. 
• With Nicolas Roy's goal, the Golden Knights now have nine players with ten or more goals on the team. These players are Reilly Smith, Mark Stone, Jack Eichel, Jonathan Marchessault, Will Carrier, Chandler Stephenson, William Karlsson, Phil Kessel, and Nicolas Roy. The only other team in the NHL that has this is the league-leading Boston Bruins.

VHN's Player of the Game: Jack Eichel

A goal and an assist would usually get you in POTG consideration anyways, but given the fact that we haven't seen the real Jack Eichel in forever, he's here.

Up Next: The Golden Knights will play a noon game on Super Bowl Sunday against the Anaheim Ducks at home.