Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) celebrates with defenseman Nicolas Hague (14) after scoring during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars at T-Mobile Arena Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023.
Published Saturday, March 25, 2023 | 9:55 p.m.
Updated Saturday, March 25, 2023 | 11:12 p.m.
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The Golden Knights needed action from their top players to counter the superstars for the Edmonton Oilers.
Jack Eichel got the memo.
Eichel had a goal and two assists, including the primary helper to set up Nicolas Roy for his overtime winner 2:26 into the extra frame, to give Vegas a 4-3 win over the Oilers at Rogers Place on Saturday and sweep the three-game Western Canadian road trip.
“Gutsy win for us,” Eichel said. “I thought we played well. It’s a really good team over there. They generate a lot offense. I thought we did a good job for the most part limiting them.”
Eichel outdueled Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl with his second three-point outing in less than a week. He had a hat trick Sunday against Columbus and has seven points (four goals, three assists) in four games.
“He was in attack mode,” coach Bruce Cassidy said of Eichel. “Sometimes he gets a little on the outside and doesn’t take control. Shot the puck, matched up with whomever he went out against.”
Jonathan Marchessault added a goal and an assist, and Pavel Dorofeyev scored for the Golden Knights (46-21-6), resulting in their fourth straight victory and adding some cushion on their lead in the Pacific Division.
Vegas keeps a four-point lead on the Los Angeles Kings with nine games left (the Kings have a game in hand), but the Golden Knights extend their division lead over Edmonton to seven points.
The teams will meet again at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday.
The Golden Knights entered this game down three key players. Forward Reilly Smith, one of Vegas’ best players over the last month, sustained a lower-body injury Thursday in Calgary. As did goalie Logan Thompson, who left his first start in a month-and-a-half on Thursday due to injury.
Defenseman Alec Martinez did not play due to a personal matter.
In a game like this where the opposition is breaking the norm of scoring in the modern-day NHL, the Golden Knights needed their stars to offset whatever McDavid and Draisaitl could do.
McDavid had an assist to give him 139 points on the season, and Draisaitl scored his 45th goal this season and added an assist.
“Next-man-up mentality,” said defenseman Brayden McNabb. “Been like that all year. We’ve had injuries throughout the year and guys are prepared to step up.”
Eichel got things rolling early. He opened the scoring 1:01 into the game by beating Edmonton goalie Stuart Skinner far side, giving him his 27th goal of the season.
After Draisaitl found Zach Hyman for a tap-in 2:27 later, Dorofeyev continued his hot stretch since being called up from AHL Henderson, scoring a power-play goal at 16:27 for his fifth in seven games to give Vegas a 2-1 lead.
The Golden Knights led three different times, only for the Oilers to respond. Draisaitl scored his 28th power-play goal of the year at 10:30 of the second period to tie it 2-2.
To which the lead was restored at 6:57 of the third when Eichel fed a drop pass from the right wall to the middle of the ice, finding Marchessault for the 3-2 lead.
The Golden Knights became the first team in NHL history to win four straight games with four different goaltenders, further heightening the absurdity of the situation that has come in the crease for Vegas this season.
It was Laurent Brossoit’s turn Saturday, making his first start since Feb. 25 after dealing with a lower-body injury. Brossoit made 27 saves for his second win of the season, and couldn’t be faulted for either of the first two goals.
The third he would likely want back after Warren Foegele’s shot snuck by Brossoit’s pads at 11:19 to tie the game. But the Golden Knights kept the Oilers to the outside for the better part of the third period, outshooting them 15-6 and just one shot in overtime.
“I thought we played really well in the third,” Eichel said. “We had some good chances. I thought we controlled play for periods of it and played in their end. For the most part, kept them out of our zone.”
The Golden Knights could clinch a playoff spot Tuesday should they beat Edmonton again, along with a couple of other scenarios, but each division game — including this one — is starting to have a playoff feel.
And for Eichel, who is on the cusp of playing in the postseason for the first time in his career, this was a game he needed to be the best player on the ice in a matchup with star power galore.
It’s not every day players will outduel McDavid and Draisaitl. For one night, Eichel did. Doing it twice in a row would be something else.
“We found a way to win tonight,” Eichel said. “That’s a big two points for us.”
Danny Webster can be reached at 702-259-8814 or [email protected]. Follow Danny on Twitter at twitter.com/DannyWebster21.
