Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)

The Golden Knights (above) defeat the Ottawa Senators 5-4.

- By Steve Carp

KANATA, Ontario — Maybe all it took was a change of countries for the Golden Knights to rediscover their winning ways.

More likely than crossing into Canada, though, it was the power play clicking again, the forwards coming back and helping the defense and Maxime Lagace making enough stops in goal that gave the Knights a 5-4 win Saturday over the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre.

The victory ended a threegame road losing streak and improved the Knights’ record to 9-4.

“Nobody was panicking,” said center Jonathan Marchessau­lt, who had a goal and two assists. “We’ve been playing well as a team. Everyone’s trying to stay loose. After three games like

that, everyone could’ve tied up their sticks. But we know we’re a good team, and we have a lot of experience­d guys in the room who aren’t going to let things get away from us.”

The Knights also got two goals from Erik Haula and one each from Alex Tuch

and William Karlsson.

“As a team, we felt we got a lot better (in Boston), and we wanted that to continue that (Saturday),” said Haula, who scored the winning goal and assisted on Marchessau­lt’s power-play goal. “It wasn’t easy, but that’s how it goes, that’s how you end streaks like that.”

The Senators (6-3-5) can be difficult to generate offense against, as they bottle teams up in the neutral zone. But the Knights looked to get pucks behind the defense, and they won their share of races to the free pucks.

“It was a real strong game,” Knights coach Gerard Gallant said. “They made it close at the end, but we got the two points, and I liked the way the team played for the most part.

“We were able to dump it in and get behind their defense, and it was a good job executing the game plan. I thought we played well from the start, and I definitely think there was some carry-over from Thursday in Boston to (Saturday).”

The Knights led 5-2 after Haula scored his second goal during a power play 6:47 into the third period. But Ottawa picked up the pace and cut the deficit to 5-4, with Ryan Dzingel scoring shortly after Haula. The Senators also got a goal from Erik Karlsson with 34 seconds left after pulling their goaltender.

But Lagace was strong in goal and recorded his first NHL win, with his parents among the 16,284 in attendance.

“It was a really good team effort, and it’s good for the road trip to get a win and break the losing streak,” Lagace said. “I’m learning with each game, and I’m getting more comfortabl­e playing with the guys in front of me.”

Lagace said the puck from his first win probably will be given to his dad. But the memory of winning an NHL game will be his for the rest of his life.

“You’ll always remember your first one,” he said.

The Knights got their power play going again and were 3 of 5 with the man advantage. They also did a good job of minimizing their time in the penalty box with three trips.

“We did a nice job moving the puck and finishing our chances,” Gallant said. “Our penalty kill was good, too, so it was a good job by the special teams.”

Senators coach Guy Boucher was impressed by the expansion team.

“They’re the hardest-working team in the NHL, and they proved it again tonight,” Boucher said.

 ?? The Associated Press ??
The Associated Press
 ?? Fred Chartrand The Canadian Press via AP ?? Golden Knights right wing Alex Tuch, bottom right, celebrates his goal in front of teammate William Karlsson and Senators goalie Craig Anderson and defenseman Fredrik Claesson on Saturday.
Fred Chartrand The Canadian Press via AP Golden Knights right wing Alex Tuch, bottom right, celebrates his goal in front of teammate William Karlsson and Senators goalie Craig Anderson and defenseman Fredrik Claesson on Saturday.
 ?? Eric Bolte USA Today ?? Golden Knights goalie Maxime Lagace makes a save during the second period Saturday, en route to earning his first career NHL victory. His parents were in attendance. “You’ll always remember your first one,” he said.
Eric Bolte USA Today Golden Knights goalie Maxime Lagace makes a save during the second period Saturday, en route to earning his first career NHL victory. His parents were in attendance. “You’ll always remember your first one,” he said.

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