Win over Hurricanes gives Golden Knights best record in NHL
RALEIGH, N.C. — James Neal and Jonathan Marchessault scored to help the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-1 on Sunday night, giving the expansion franchise the best record in the NHL.
The Golden Knights are 31-11-4, good for 66 points. That’s one ahead of Tampa Bay, which had the night off.
Colin Miller had a goal and two assists, and Marc-Andre Fleury made 27 saves for Vegas. The Golden Knights finished 2-1-1 on this road trip, including a 4-1 win Thursday at the Lightning.
Carolina, which has lost five of seven, is last in the tight Metropolitan Division.
The Golden Knights are 20-1 when scoring first, and Carolina is 3-13-5 when trailing 1-0. Travis Konecny scored 27 seconds into overtime, and the surging Philadelphia Flyers beat the Washington Capitals. Konecny found space in the middle of the offensive zone and his shot deflected off Washington’s T.J. Oshie and past Braden Holtby for his eighth of the season. Michael Raffl also scored for Philadelphia, and Brian Elliott had 27 saves. The Flyers have won three in a row and seven of eight to move into playoff position in the Eastern Conference. Washington has dropped three in a row. Alex Ovechkin scored his NHLbest 29th goal, and Holtby made 21 stops.
Connor Hellebuyck made 29 saves for his fourth shutout of the season and the Winnipeg Jets extended their home winning streak to six games with a victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Patrik Laine scored his team-leading 21st goal in the first period.
Mikkel Boedker had two goals and an assist, Joe Thornton had a goal and an assist, and the San Jose Sharks beat the Anaheim Ducks. Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Kevin Labanc and Melker Karlsson also scored for the Sharks, who have won five of six. Aaron Dell stopped 33 shots.