The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 on Tuesday night, March 11, 2025, at PPG Paints Arena, overcoming the Golden Knights with a late-game surge and overtime heroics.
Coming off of their previous game—a 4-0 loss against the same opponents—this victory marked revenge for the Penguins. Under the leadership of head coach Mike Sullivan, Tristan Jarry returned to the net after recently regaining confidence. He made 36 saves throughout the game, effectively shutting down the Golden Knights’ attempts to establish consistent offensive pressure.
The game started with both teams vying fiercely for control until Sidney Crosby broke the deadlock. With just under three minutes to go, Crosby tipped Rickard Rakell’s pass for the first goal during a power play, sending the home crowd to their feet with excitement. The Penguins ended the first period with a slim 1-0 lead.
Both teams entered the second period eager to impress. Just over three minutes in, Crosby struck again with another beautifully placed shot, extending the Penguins’ lead to 2-0. Despite strong pressure from the Golden Knights, who threw everything at Jarry, it wasn't until the latter half of the period when Pavel Dorofeyev netted a power-play goal, bringing the score to 2-1. The Penguins managed to cling to their lead, heading for the final period.
Fortunes shifted dramatically during the third period as the Golden Knights dominated play with 20 shots on goal compared to the Penguins’ mere four. Just when the game seemed like it was slipping away from Vegas, Noah Hanifin capitalized with only six seconds left on the clock, scoring on a slapshot to tie the game at 2-2. This dramatic equalizer sent the game to overtime.
Once overtime commenced, Pittsburgh displayed great composure and strategic control, dominating possession from the start. Just 49 seconds in, Erik Karlsson rifled the puck from the right circle, sealing the Penguins’ victory and scoring his ninth goal of the season with his exquisite shot.
The turning point of the night was the relentless attack from the Golden Knights, who had previously outperformed the Penguins, especially during the third period. "We had chances but needed to convert them consistently," Hanifin mentioned post-game. "It’s tough not getting the two points, but it’s good to come out with one. We fought until the end."
The Golden Knights had their fair share of opportunities, aided by assists from key players, including Jack Eichel, who provided Dorofeyev with the setup for his goal. With this assist, Eichel tied William Karlsson's record for the most points scored by a player in the Golden Knights’ history with 78 points, which was initially set during the team’s iconic 2017-18 season.
Despite the disappointment of not winning, the Golden Knights remain positioned well within the strong competition of the Pacific Division, particularly contending against the Edmonton Oilers.
Tristan Jarry’s performance was noteworthy, as he demonstrated the skills needed to reclaim his place as the starting goaltender for the Penguins after being recalled from the AHL earlier this month. “Their goaltender definitely outplayed ours,” admitted Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy, acknowledging Jarry's stellar saves throughout the match.
This loss is the second consecutive defeat for the Golden Knights after they previously enjoyed four straight wins. Coach Cassidy, reflecting on the match, expressed optimism at the possibility of regaining momentum as they face off against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night, March 13.
Meanwhile, the Penguins looked to build momentum as they prepared for their next challenge, also bearing down on the St. Louis Blues on the same evening.
For the Penguins, Crosby's exceptional skills have proven pivotal. Notably, he now joins eight notable players in NHL history by achieving the milestone of 70 points across 15 seasons. His consistent performance has solidified his status as one of the league's elite, allowing his team to thrive amid tougher competition.
With the season nearing its conclusion, both the Penguins and the Golden Knights find themselves on the precipice of playoff contention. Each match proves pivotal as every team eagerly eyes coveted points necessary for post-season action. The Penguins look to continue their upward trend, whereas the Golden Knights aim to recover and regain their dominance on the ice.