Golden Knights tame Coyotes for fifth straight win
A two-minute burst of offense was enough for another win for the Vegas Golden Knights.
The expansion team that doesn’t play like one strengthened its grip on first place in the Pacific Division with a 4-2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday night.
Tomas Nosek, William Karlsson and Erik Haula scored in a 1:42 span of the second period, providing just enough offense.
Jonathan Marchessault added an empty-net goal right before the buzzer and an earlier pair of assists for the Knights, now 3-0 against Arizona.
Vegas has three wins in four nights.
“That’s six points we were talking about against division rivals, too,” Karlsson said. “Yeah, six huge points and hopefully we’ll continue like this.”
Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Brendan Perlini scored in a third-period Coyotes comeback. Perlini’s spectacular goal through traffic and past goalie Malcolm Subban cut the lead to 3-2 with 9:25 remaining.
“Yeah, that is a highlight real goal and, that is a very talented player,” Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet said. “Outside speed, cut in, top shelf, and in the net. We need other players to start to have that mentality of taking that puck wide and taking it to the net instead of looking for a pass in the middle and hitting a skate. We have to have more of that mentality.”
The Coyotes killed a four-minute, double-minor penalty by Jason Demers for high-sticking and
had 3:24 left when play returned to five-on-five. But they couldn’t penetrate the Knights’ defense. CAPITALS 4, MAPLE LEAFS 2 >> Alex Ovechkin had a hat trick to help Washington beat Toronto.
Ovechkin scored two of his three goals in the opening period for the Capitals. Jakub Vrana also scored, and Braden Holtby made 27 saves. PENGUINS 5, LIGHTNING 2
>> Sidney Crosby and Phil Kessel came through for reeling Pittsburgh. Crosby and Kessel each scored twice and the Penguins beat Tampa Bay to end a season-high three-game losing streak.
Tristan Jarry stopped 33 shots for his first NHL win. He also assisted on the first goal. BLACKHAWKS 4, PANTHERS 1>> Jonathan Toews had a goal and two assists and Corey Crawford made 37 saves in his 400th NHL game to help Chicago beat Florida. DEVILS 4, RED WINGS 3 >> Brian Gibbons scored with 2:28 remaining in overtime to give New Jersey a victory over Detroit.
Lee and Jordan Eberle scored, Nick Leddy had two assists. ISLANDERS 2, SENATORS 1 >> Lee and Jordan Eberle scored, Nick Leddy had two assists and New York beat Ottawa, handing the Senators their sixth loss in a row. CANADIENS 3, SABRES 0 >> Carey Price made 36 saves in his return from an injury and Montreal beat Buffalo to snap a fivegame losing streak. BLUES 6, WILD 3 >> Jaden Schwartz scored twice and Kyle Brodziak added a short-handed goal in St. Louis’ win.