Patrick Semansky / Associated Press
Vegas Golden Knights’ Shea Theodore scores a goal against Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren during overtime in an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, in Washington. The Golden Knights won 3-2.
Published Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022 | 6:52 p.m.
Updated Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022 | 8:50 p.m.
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On Sunday, Jack Eichel ended the game with his shot. Tuesday, it was with a pass.
Eichel made the game-deciding play in overtime for the second straight game, finding Shea Theodore for the game-winning goal 1:05 into overtime to help the Golden Knights win their fifth straight game, 3-2 against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on Tuesday.
Eichel, who posted his second straight multi-point game, scored for the second straight game. He had the game-winning overtime goal on Sunday in the 2-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets.
Eichel has 12 points through the Golden Knights’ 9-2-0 start, the best run to begin a season through 11 games in the team’s history.
“Pretty special player,” coach Bruce Cassidy said of Eichel. “When there’s time and space for Jack, he’s one of those dynamic players people pay money to see.”
The play Eichel made Tuesday wasn’t exactly the same as the slam-dunk goal he scored Sunday, but it was another instance of using his long stick to keep possession of the puck and extend the play long enough to end the game.
Eichel maneuvered through the three Washington skaters and held the puck along the wall. Eichel gave a subtle head tilt to Theodore, motioning him toward the goal. The defenseman received the pass and roofed it over Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren.
Theodore also beat the Capitals in overtime last season for a 4-3 win at T-Mobile Arena on April 20.
“He’s a skilled player with the puck,” Theodore said. “If you can read his eyes and get to a good spot, he’ll find you.”
The Golden Knights found themselves trailing in the third period for the second straight game. Despite outshooting Washington 19-16 through two periods, Vegas trailed 2-1 thanks to a power-play goal early in the first from Marcus Johansson, and a shot from Capitals defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk.
That offset Eichel’s power-play goal in the first period that got Vegas on the board.
Vegas struggled to generate anything in the second period, and Washington kept them to the outside for the majority of the third.
That was until William Carrier hopped over the boards, received a pass from the corner by William Karlsson and beat Lindgren to tie it 2-2 with 5:56 remaining.
“I don’t even know if he saw me,” Carrier said of Karlsson’s pass. “It looked like a blind play. He makes those plays. It’s unbelievable.”
Logan Thompson made 19 saves for his third straight victory, and Alex Pietrangelo had three assists to give him nine on the season.
The Golden Knights blocked 23 shots, five of them on Washington star Alex Ovechkin. The third greatest goal scorer of all-time at 785, had just one shot on target that came in the first period.
Defense and playing well in front of Thompson were once again the recipes to success for Vegas to continue their best start in team history. Vegas outshot Washington 31-21 and held the Capitals to four total shots on goal in the third period and overtime.
Washington played its second straight overtime game after losing 3-2 in a shootout at Carolina on Monday.
"I don't think either team was on top of their game with execution,” Cassidy said. “Washington had a tough schedule. For whatever reason, this morning and tonight we weren't crisp. But we stayed in the game."
Theodore said the Golden Knights are still trying to get acclimated to the newness of this year’s team, but they’re near the top as one of the best teams in the league at the start of November. That counts for something.
Vegas will try to extend their winning streak to six on Thursday in Ottawa against the young, but talented, Senators.
“If you’re going to have a good road trip, the first one is a win of some sort, usually a character win,” Cassidy said. “We’re on to the next nation’s capital but it’s a good start. Guys usually feel good about themselves when things like that happen.”
Danny Webster can be reached at 702-259-8814 or [email protected]. Follow Danny on Twitter at twitter.com/DannyWebster21.
