Jack Eichel’s hot streak and Logan Thompson’s consistent goaltending could be the key combination for the Vegas Golden Knights as they push for a Western Conference playoff spot.
Eichel scored twice in his first multi-goal game since joining Vegas, while Thompson made 26 saves, securing his fourth consecutive win as the Golden Knights defeated the Seattle Kraken 5-2 on Friday night.
Vegas, the previous NHL expansion team, swept the season series against the newest expansion team, having defeated Seattle in the season opener in October and shut out the Kraken 3-0 on Wednesday night.
“Every game is competitive in this league. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing,” Eichel said. “They got a lot of good players over there. You just got to take care of business every night. We know our position, but we can only control so much and get two points every night.”
Eichel’s goals were his eighth and ninth of the season in his 22nd game for the Golden Knights. Shea Theodore added his 10th goal of the season midway through the second period, while Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson netted empty-net goals in the final 2 1/2 minutes. Marchessault’s goal was his 27th of the season and Karlsson’s 10th.
The victory propelled Vegas into a playoff spot in the Western Conference, one point ahead of Dallas for the second wild-card position.
“It was just a matter of time with Jack Eichel,” Vegas coach Peter DeBoer said. “We reviewed some tape on our off day. He could have had two or three goals last game as well. He’s getting great looks, working hard for them, and playing a solid 200-foot game. Now, they’re going in.”
Evgenii Dadonov contributed two assists, bringing his total to seven points for Vegas since the NHL voided the attempted trade that would have sent him to Anaheim at the trade deadline last month.
Alex Wennberg brought Seattle within 3-1 at 10:44 of the third period with his ninth goal of the season off a great pass from Jared McCann. Kole Lind scored his first NHL goal with 1:38 left following Marchessault’s empty-netter.
McCann also found himself in a rare fight in the second period, just the sixth of his career.
“Frustration is the easiest way to put it. Things haven’t really gone our way this year with bounces or anything like that,” McCann said. “It kind of boiled over tonight. I don’t do that very often.”
Making his eighth straight start, Thompson was solid when needed, though great scoring chances were rare for the Kraken. Karson Kuhlman had two prime opportunities for Seattle, missing the net in the first period and hitting the crossbar in the second.
Thompson has started eight consecutive games for the Golden Knights, posting a 6-2 record during that stretch.
“I’m kind of like a broken record. I just keep getting confident every day,” Thompson said. “Pete’s letting me run with it. I’m having a lot of fun and the guys are playing really well.”
Eichel’s first goal came at 10:28 of the first period after a defensive lapse allowed Alec Martinez to set him up in front of the net. Seconds after Kuhlman hit the crossbar in the second, Eichel scored his second goal, capitalizing on a pass from Dadonov. Later in the period, Theodore scored unmarked, racing down the center of the ice and beating Grubauer on the blocker side.
Eichel’s last multi-goal game was over two years ago, in February 2020, with Buffalo against Pittsburgh. He has four goals in his past four games.
Game Notes
McCann bested Vegas’ Michael Amadio in their fight. McCann had 12 penalty minutes this season before the game. Seattle’s Yanni Gourde and Vegas’ Ben Hutton also received fighting majors. On Wednesday, Vegas forward Keegan Kolesar was scratched after his fight with Seattle’s Jamie Oleksiak. DeBoer said Kolesar is day-to-day. Seattle scratched defenseman Haydn Fleury and forward Jaden Schwartz, both with upper-body injuries, missing their fourth straight game.
UP NEXT
- Golden Knights: at Vancouver on Sunday.
- Kraken: Host Dallas on Sunday.
