Blog: Cody Eakin scores twice as Golden Knights soar past Ducks 5-0

By Case Keefer (contact)

Published Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018 | 4 p.m.

Updated Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018 | 10:12 p.m.

Cody Eakin rushed down the left side of the ice and rifled a shot top-shelf to beat the goalie.

That happened not once, but twice, in the second period of the Vegas Golden Knights’ 5-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks Wednesday night at T-Mobile Arena. The promoted second-line center led the way as Vegas had a long-awaited complete performance where it tied a season-high in goals and put together its largest margin of victory.

The Golden Knights snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 8-10-1 with the victory, the two points in the standings allowing them to begin a climb up the Pacific Division ranks. They now sit tied with the Arizona Coyotes, two points behind the Ducks and Edmonton Oilers.

Eakin has been forced into a more prominent role with injuries to Paul Stastny and Erik Haula, and has looked more than up to the task. He’s second on the team with seven goals, sitting only one behind Jonathan Marchessault.

New linemate Alex Tuch, who started the season on injured reserve, moved into third with his fifth goal of the season, which started a scoring onslaught for the Golden Knights. Tuch knocked in a rebound off of a shot by Max Pacioretty, who had two assists on the night, on a late first-period power play to put Vegas up 1-0.

Tuch sparked the next goal too, when he got a takeaway and pushed it up the ice on an odd man rush, finding Eakin for a score 25 seconds into the second period. Anaheim goalie John Gibson tried to get over for the stop, but was a moment too slow against Eakin’s rapid wrister.

Gibson, who had 10 saves on 13 shots, was pulled on the next goal when teammate Adam Henrique accidentally put a puck past him. The goal was credited to nearby Vegas defenseman Nick Holden, his second of the season.

Eakin greeted new Anaheim goalie Ryan Miller with a goal on the first shot he faced less than three minutes later, flipping the puck over him off of a breakaway when Vegas was shorthanded.

The third period saw the first goal of the season from Tomas Hyka, as T-Mobile Arena transformed into a party atmosphere with the 18,111 in attendance relishing the rare blowout win from the home team this season.

It came with a bonus in the form of free donuts for the fans, as Marc-Andre Fleury triggered the Krispy Kreme promotion with his second straight home shutout. Fleury stopped 29 shots in the victory.

Come back to lasvegassun.com later for more coverage.

Golden Knights ahead of Ducks 4-0 at second intermission

Despite their early-season scoring struggles, the Golden Knights stayed resolute by saying the goals would eventually come if they stayed aggressive.

The “eventually” may have finally arrived in the second period at T-Mobile Arena. Vegas exploded for three goals, and leads Anaheim 4-0.

It was the first time this season that the Golden Knights scored three goals in a period and four goals through the first 40 minutes of play. They’re also one score away from matching their season-high in total goals. Vegas got goals it didn’t even earn, as replay revealed their second score of the period didn’t even come from a Golden Knight.

It was accidentally tipped in by a Duck, as center Adam Henrique poked one past John Gibson for a goal that was credited to Golden Knight defenseman Nick Holden. Cody Eakin had the other two scores, first on an odd man rush off of a pass from Alex Tuch and then on a shorthanded breakaway.

The shorthanded goal came on the first shot faced by Ryan Miller, who replaced Gibson when the Golden Knights went up 3-0.

Golden Knights lead Ducks 1-0 at the end of the first period

The Golden Knights’ power play continued its recent upward ascent in the first period against the Ducks.

Vegas improved to 11-for-63 on the year with a man advantage, as coach Gerard Gallant’s reworked special-teams lines clicked again. With just under two minutes remaining, Alex Tuch beat Ducks goalie John Gibson on a rebound off of a tip from Max Pacioretty.

Colin Miller started the sequence by firing a puck towards the net from the blue line. It was the Golden Knights’ third power play of the night.

Vegas got chances on each of the first two, but Gibson stood strong. He made one particularly memorable save early in the first power play, when Reilly Smith flung a backhand at him from right in front of the net.

The Golden Knights also picked up two penalties, but played well and limited the Ducks’ chances. Vegas has a 10-6 shots on goal edge overall.

Pre-game

The peak of the Golden Knights’ season through their first 18 games arguably came the first time the Anaheim Ducks were in town.

Vegas controlled the action to an extent rarely seen in an NHL game en route to a 3-1 victory that notched a season-high three-game win streak.

“It was just playing the right way,” Jonathan Marchessault recalled. “It was nothing too special. We just managed the puck well, and we need to get back to doing that.”

The Golden Knights hope a return to form can start at 7:30 p.m. today when they host the Ducks for the second of five meetings with the Pacific Division rivals this season. They could really use a performance like the one they previously managed against the Ducks after going 1-3 on a road trip last week.

The regular season is less than a quarter of the way through, and the fact that it’s so early has been a source of comfort as Vegas has stumbled to a 7-10-1 record. But it’s become evident in the locker room that a lot of excuses are wearing thin.

Players are beginning to speak with more urgency about turning the season around.

“We’re frustrated — that’s for sure,” Marchessault said. “We’re disappointed, but we have to move on. It’s the next day. We need to get going; we really need some wins.”

The Golden Knights announced more bad news this morning, as they declared second-line wing Erik Haula, “month-to-month.” Haula joins former linemate Paul Stastny on injured reserve, a list where many Golden Knights have spent time this season.

All the injuries have spurred coach Gerard Gallant to tinker with his lineups, particularly in the Golden Knights’ last three games — against Ottawa, Montreal and Boston. That could be something to watch again tonight.

“I don’t know if it’s a good move or not,” Marchessault said. “I don’t have an opinion on it because I’m not the coach. I think we all have faith in our coach to make the right decision.”

Keefer’s Prediction: Golden Knights 3, Ducks 2

Season record for predictions: 5-4

Pick to score the Golden Knights’ first goal: Jonathan Marchessault

Season record for first goal scored: 1-for-9

TV: NBC Sports Network (DirecTV 220, Cox 38, CenturyLink 640)

Radio: Fox Sports 1340 AM and 98.9 FM

Betting line: Golden Knights minus-175, Ducks plus-155; over/under: 5.5 (plus-110, minus-130)

Golden Knights (7-10-1) (4-2-1 home)

Coach: Gerard Gallant (second season)

Goals leader: Jonathan Marchessault (8)

Assists leader: William Karlsson (10)

Expected goalie: Marc-Andre Fleury (2.69 gaa, .895 save percentage)

Anaheim Ducks (8-8-3) (3-5 road)

Coach: Randy Carlyle (third season)

Goals leader: Jakob Silferberg, Pontus Aberg (5)

Assists leader: Rickard Rakell (10)

Expected goalie: John Gibson (2.47 gaa, .931 save percentage)

Golden Knights expected game day roster

Forwards (12): Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, William Carrier, Ryan Carpenter, Cody Eakin, Tomas Hyka, William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault, Tomas Nosek, Max Pacioretty, Ryan Reaves, Reilly Smith, Alex Tuch

Defensemen (6): Deryk Engelland, Nick Holden, Jon Merrill, Brayden McNabb, Colin Miller, Shea Theodore

Goalies (2): Marc-Andre Fleury and Malcolm Subban

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.