Golden Knights Beat Hurricanes in Playoff-Like Game

The Vegas Golden Knights (36-19-6, 78 points) defeated the Carolina Hurricanes (39-12-8, 86 points) 3-2 in their final game before the NHL Trade Deadline.

This was the first meeting of the season series between these two teams and the last first meeting for any Golden Knight's opponent. Ivan Barbashev made his Golden Knights home debut and Adin Hill started. 

Not in the lineup were former Golden Knights Max Pacioretty and Dylan Coghlan, as well as Jesse Puljujarvi and Teddy Blueger, who was just traded to the Hurricanes and Golden Knights respectively.

It was women's history knight at T-Mobile Arena and the VGK subsequently wore special jerseys that were then auctioned off.

FIRST PERIOD

• Just like last game, the opposition pressured Adin Hill. This time he came up with a pair of big saves early.
• Michael Amadio hit Reilly Smith with a pass off the rush for a decent shot opportunity.
• The Hurricanes pinned the Golden Knights in their own zone for extended periods of time for the better half of the first.
• Brayden McNabb rocked Andrei Svechnikov with one of his patented big hits.
• Alex Pietrangelo made a great play to get a pass across to Reilly Smith, who just barely fanned on a shot.
• The Golden Knights turned over the puck to Martin Necas who danced in on Adin Hill, who made a toe save.
• VGK PP- Will Carrier was hooked near the Hurricanes' net by Martin Necas.
• Reilly Smith fed Shea Theodore off the rush for a great chance that hit the upper post and stayed out.

SECOND PERIOD

• Brayden McNabb's long shot from the post hit the post behind Frederik Andersen.
• 1-0 VGK GOAL- The Golden Knight's first line mucked away and got some good chances before Jack Eichel buried one in the slot.

• A loose puck sat in the Hurricanes' crease for an extended period of time as the third line got some chances.
• Sebastian Aho was in the right place at the right time for a quality shot on Adin Hill that was stopped.
• 1-1 CAR GOAL- Martin Necas cut to the slot and fooled Adin Hill with a quick wrister to tie the game.
• Ivan Barbashev almost had his first goal as a Golden Knight as he set up Jack Eichel and then got the puck back in front of the net.
• 2-1 VGK GOAL- Ivan Barbashev fed Jack Eichel on a breakaway and Jack made no mistake scoring his second of the night.

• Sebastian Aho's open-ice hit Jonathan Marchessault resulted in a scrum near the end of the second.

THIRD PERIOD

• An airmail pass from Shea Theodore sprung Will Carrier and Chandler Stephenson, but they were unable to finish.
• Jesper Fast had a couple of late chances after a Jordan Martinook shot before Nicolas Hague cleared him out.
• Keegan Kolesar muscled his way past Brett Pesce for a drive to the net that was stopped by Fredrik Andersen.
• 2-2 CAR GOAL- Brent Burns' shot was tipped in by Jordan Staal to tie the game at two.
• 3-2 VGK GOAL- Michael Amadio got behind the defense, recieved a pass, and then set up Reilly Smith for the go-ahead goal.
• Frederik Anderseon was pulled with just over two minutes to go in the third period and Rod Brind A'Mour used his timeout.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS NOTES

• Overall, this was a great game between two high-caliber teams. Definitely a playoff-like feel in this one.
• With an assist on Jack Eichel's second goal of the night, Ivan Barbashev scored his first point as a Golden Knight.
• Jack Eichel has seven goals and eleven points in his last nine games. Safe to say he is back.
• Although he did not play, Dylan Coghlan returned to T-Mobile Arena in the pressbox with his new team, the Hurricanes.
• The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight, which gets them up to 74 points in the playoff race.

VHN's Player of the Game: Jack Eichel.

Two goals followed by two great cellys. Big game player performance from Jack tonight.

Up Next: The Golden Knights will play the New Jersey Devils on Friday, AKA Trade Deadline day at 7:00 p.m. from T-Mobile Arena.