The Vegas Golden Knights survived a late surge from the St. Louis Blues, securing a thrilling 4-3 victory at T-Mobile Arena. Jack Eichel, Ivan Barbashev, and Shea Theodore delivered standout performances, powering the Golden Knights to their 25th win of the season.
First Period: Golden Knights Dominate
Vegas started strong, outshooting St. Louis 14-7 in the opening frame. Eichel opened the scoring at 12:45, capitalizing on a Blues turnover. Barbashev doubled the lead at 17:10, converting a rebound past Jordan Binnington.
Second Period: Blues Respond
St. Louis regrouped in the second, with Brayden Schenn cutting the deficit to 2-1 at 4:15. However, Theodore restored the two-goal cushion at 12:25, firing a wrist shot past Binnington.
Third Period: Intense Finish
The Blues pushed hard in the final stanza, with Vladimir Tarasenko scoring at 5:10 to make it 3-2. Vegas’s Chandler Stephenson responded at 10:45, but St. Louis’s Ryan O’Reilly countered at 14:50. The Golden Knights held firm, with goalie Logan Thompson making crucial saves to secure the win.
Key Performers
1. Jack Eichel (1G, 1A): Eichel’s multi-point night extended his point streak to 5 games.
2. Ivan Barbashev (1G, 1A): Barbashev’s 10th goal of the season and assist fueled the Golden Knights’ offense.
3. Shea Theodore (1G, 1A): Theodore’s 20th assist and goal showcased his two-way prowess.
Notable Stats
1. Shots on Goal: Vegas (37), St. Louis (31)
2. Faceoff Wins: Vegas (54%), St. Louis (46%)
3. Power Play: Vegas (0/2), St. Louis (0/3)
Coach Bruce Cassidy’s Thoughts
“We needed this win, especially against a tough opponent like St. Louis. Our top guys stepped up, and Logan Thompson made key saves when it mattered.”
Golden Knights’ Momentum
The victory propels Vegas to:
1. 2nd in Pacific Division: The Golden Knights trail the Seattle Kraken by 2 points.
2. 5-game point streak: Vegas has collected 8 of 10 possible points in their last 5 games.
3. 12-5-2 home record: The Golden Knights continue to thrive at T-Mobile Arena.
Blues’ Struggles
St. Louis drops to:
1. 4th in Central Division: The Blues trail the division-leading Dallas Stars by 6 points.
2. 2-4-1 in last 7 games: St. Louis seeks consistency after a strong start.
3. 10-8-2 road record: The Blues aim to improve their away form.
Up Next
Vegas hosts the Arizona Coyotes on Friday, while St. Louis visits the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.
