Golden Knights Stumble; Huff, Puff, Blow Past Bruins Late

The Vegas Golden Knights (33-17-6) have struggled recently to finish their chances. That wasn’t the case this afternoon. The Golden Knights overcame a sleepy start and launched a multi-goal comeback over the Boston Bruins (27-24-6) not once but twice.

The Golden Knights struggled with net-front defense early on. Just over three minutes into the game, they left Brad Marchand alone next to the net, and he made them pay. Noah Hanifin turned the puck over to Nikita Zadorov, and Zadorov put the puck right on Marchand’s tape. 

Just over seven minutes into the game, David Pastrňák and Morgan Geekie were sprung for a two-on-one. Pastrňák sold the shot and backhanded a pass to Geekie. Ilya Samsonov read it perfectly and stretched across the crease to rob Geekie of a golden scoring chance. I imagine Samsonov’s face will be mass-printed onto wanted posters shortly. 

WHAT A MOVE ACROSS THE CREASE FROM ILYA SAMSONOV 😱

📺 ABC/ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/EFJ8eEF4Co

— ESPN (@espn) February 8, 2025

Six minutes later, the Bruins extended their lead. The Golden Knights lost a series of battles in front of their net, and Shea Theodore’s clearing attempt went right to Nikita Zadorov. Ilya Samsonov was still down from the flurry of saves he’d had to make, and Zadorov blasted it home.

The Golden Knights cut into the Bruins’ lead less than two minutes later on the power play. Tomáš Hertl didn’t record an assist, but he allowed this goal to happen. Charlie McAvoy had all the time in the world to send the puck the length of the ice, but Hertl knocked down his clearing attempt. Brandon Saad faked out Elias Lindholm and slid the puck back to Shea Theodore. Theodore wristed a shot on the net, and Mark Stone redirected it past Swayman.

Whatever was said in the locker room clearly worked because the Golden Knights dominated the second period. They were strong on their sticks, had sustained pressure in the offensive zone, and did well to get in front of Jeremy Swayman. And yet, they almost entered the final frame down another goal. Ilya Samsonov left his crease to play the puck on a dump-in, but it bounced on him. David Pastrňák was in on the forecheck and backhanded a pass to Morgan Geekie. Geekie was all alone in the slot and put it over Samsonov’s shoulder.

With just over 30 seconds left in the second period, the Golden Knights got a big break after Zach Whitecloud fired a seemingly harmless slapshot toward the net. Swayman made the save, but it squeezed past him. Andrew Peeke cleared the puck, but not before it completely crossed the goal line.

From the second the puck dropped at the start of the third period, you could feel the tying goal coming. The Golden Knights were swarming, and the Bruins looked like they were trying not to lose instead of playing to win. Jack Eichel entered the zone with speed, pulled up, and passed to Shea Theodore. Theodore threaded a beautiful pass through the sticks of Pavel Zacha and Mason Lohrei right to the tape of Pavel Dorofeyev. Swayman wasn’t entirely across the crease, and Dorofeyev didn’t miss.

The Golden Knights drew a penalty with 3:10 remaining in the third period. Pavel Zacha slashed Pavel Dorofeyev– some good old-fashioned Pavel-on-Pavel violence!– and sent the 4th-ranked power play in the league to work against the 22nd-ranked penalty kill. The Golden Knights converted twice. Pavel Dorofeyev scored, but Mark Stone made contact with Swayman in the crease, and the Bruins successfully challenged. No matter. Thirty seconds later, Jack Eichel made a nice pass to Tomáš Hertl, and Hertl fired it home.

The Bruins pulled Swayman for the extra attacker but never really threatened the Golden Knights’ lead. Mark Stone hit a post going for the empty net. David Pastrňák hauled Brett Howden down to send the Golden Knights back to the power play, effectively ending the game.

“Tons of credit to the guys,” said Jack Eichel. “We were down two but never quit and found a way to win.”

Golden Knights Notes

Mark Stone’s power play goal snapped a seven-game goalless drought. His last goal came against the St. Louis Blues on January 23rd.

Shea Theodore’s assist on Stone’s power play goal was his 40th of the season. Theodore has never had 40 assists in a single season before, and he hit that milestone in game 55.

Victor Olofsson exited tonight’s game very early after taking a puck to the neck. The Golden Knights played almost an entire 60 minutes down a forward. Jack Eichel played 20:44, Mark Stone played 22:15, and Ivan Barbashev played 19:01.

On the Golden Knights’ first power play attempt, Brandon Saad took Pavel Dorofeyev’s spot on the first unit. Just before Zadorov’s goal, Dorofeyev drew a crowd by the benches, and received matching roughing minors with Trent Frederic. Keegan Kolesar then dropped the gloves with Oliver Wahlstrom.

Jack Eichel’s helper on Hertl’s late go-ahead power play goal made him the second player in franchise history to record 50 assists in a single season.

The Golden Knights won’t play again for two weeks. However, some of their players, Jack Eichel, Shea Theodore, Noah Hanifin, and Adin Hill, will represent their respective countries at the 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament.

The Golden Knights head into the 4 Nations Face-Off break tied for first in the Pacific Division. The Edmonton Oilers still have a game in hand.