The Vegas Golden Knights showed their mettle on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena, overpowering the Seattle Kraken with a decisive 6-2 victory. The performance added to the Golden Knights' impressive record, as they enjoyed their third straight win, enhancing their position within the competitive Pacific Division.
The game took off with the Kraken initially securing the lead, as Vince Dunn netted the first goal just 2 minutes and 34 seconds after the puck dropped, taking advantage of an early power play. Dunn's shot found the back of the net, with Chandler Stephenson providing the secondary assist, marking the 200th assist milestone of his NHL career. Despite this encouraging start for Seattle, the Golden Knights swiftly regrouped. Keegan Kolesar, showcasing his skills, evened the score with his eighth goal of the season shortly after Dunn's strike.
From there, the Golden Knights flipped the game on its head, producing three consecutive goals within the first period. Jack Eichel played the pivotal role, executing masterful plays as he assisted first Brett Howden, who put Las Vegas up 2-1, putting him on pace for his impressive thirteenth of the season. Shortly thereafter, Nic Hague bulged the twine, extending the lead to 3-1, aided once again by Eichel’s magic behind the net.
The second period saw the Golden Knights tighten their grip on the game through outstanding defensive efforts, limiting the Kraken to just two scoring chances. Ilya Samsonov, the Knights' goaltender, recorded 21 saves, significantly reducing the pressures facing him on ice due to the team's solid play. Despite several opportunities, the Kraken couldn't capitalize during the second period, which continued to tilt heavily toward the Golden Knights.
Vegas remained relentless, and midway through the third, William Karlsson found the net for the second consecutive game, courtesy of Kolesar’s setup, pushing the score to 4-1. Meanwhile, Noah Hanifin also saw success as he netted his first goal since early November, animously upgrading the scoreboard to 5-1. Nonetheless, the Kraken fought back; Jaden Schwartz managed to score on the power play, narrowing the gap slightly to 5-2.
The Golden Knights didn’t let their guard down, and Mark Stone sealed the victory with an empty net goal, making it 6-2. The game marked another successful chapter for the Golden Knights, who now hold the edge over Seattle historically with 11 wins and only 2 losses against the franchise. The matchup also signified the return for Stephenson to Las Vegas, who had previously secured two Stanley Cup wins wearing the team's colors, bringing some nostalgia to fans.
Following the game, the Golden Knights climbed to 22-8-3 overall, marking their strong performance at home, with significant contributions across the board — every player on the roster recorded at least one shot during the match, showcasing remarkable teamwork. Meanwhile, the Kraken face rising concerns, capturing only one win out of their last 19 attempts when trailing after two periods, underlining the challenge they need to overcome moving forward.
Looking forward, the Golden Knights prepare for their next game against the Anaheim Ducks on Monday, as the race tightens with the Los Angeles Kings hot on their trail. The Kraken, now aiming to regain their footing, visit the Colorado Avalanche for their next contest on Sunday, hoping to reverse their current fortunes.
