Published Monday, Dec. 23, 2024 | 6:12 p.m.
Updated Monday, Dec. 23, 2024 | 9:40 p.m.
End of game: Hertl propels Golden Knights over Ducks for 11th Pacific Division win
Known more for his efforts on the power play, Tomáš Hertl’s third-period goal gave the Vegas Golden Knights a 3-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Monday.
One of the reasons Hertl was picked up by the Golden Knights was for his ability to score close to the net. Jack Eichel made a pass down to Hertl, who made a forehand-to-backhand move to score on Lukáš Dostál.
Eichel recorded his 45th point and 36 assists of the season on the goal. His point total is tied for seventh in the league and his assist total is tied for second. Tanner Pearson scored his first goal since Nov. 25, and Keegan Kolesar finished with two points for a second straight game with a goal and an assist.
Adin Hill picked up his 15th win of the season, making 27 saves on 28 shots. The Golden Knights outshot the Ducks 33 to 28.
Vegas improves to 23-8-3 and has now tied the New Jersey Devils for the No. 2 spot in the league with 49 points. It is off for the next three days before facing the Sharks in San Jose on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
End of the second period: Golden Knights maintaining goal lead over Ducks
No one found the back of the net in the second as the Golden Knights still lead the Ducks, 1-0.
Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo briefly left the game after being hit in the side of the head with the puck. He returned to the game later on in the period. Lukáš Dostál remained in the net after relieving John Gibson late in the first period. Gibson suffered an apparent eye injury after Tanner Laczynski’s stick caught him.
There were three penalties in the second period. Brayden McNabb went to the box for the second time tonight for interference, but the Ducks did not convert on the opportunity. Anaheim’s Leo Carlsson was called for tripping, and 90 seconds later, Radko Gudas was called for tripping. Vegas had a 5-on-3 opportunity for about 30 seconds but failed to convert.
Vegas had a 10-7 shot advantage in the period and has a 22-14 advantage in the game.
End of first period: Pearson’s late short-handed goal gives Golden Knights lead over Ducks
In a chaotic final two and half minutes of the period, Tanner Pearson converts on the penalty kill to give the Vegas Golden Knights a 1-0 lead over the Anaheim Ducks.
The opportunity started with a Keegan Kolesar breakaway after he intercepted a pass from Anaheim’s Mason McTavish. Kolesar missed the net but got the loose puck off the boards and passed it to Pearson in the slot, who eventually scored. Vegas is outshooting Anaheim 12-7.
Tanner Laczynski was called for interference after his stick had clipped Ducks goaltender John Gibson’s eye. The injury was bad enough to where Gibson left the game and was relieved by Lukas Dostal. Dostal gave up the goal on the first shot he faced.
Gibson had been the main reason the game had still been tied. He had made a flurry of saves, including a major scoring chance by the Golden Knights in the first two minutes of the game.
The Ducks are 0-for-2 on the power play, as they failed to convert on a Brayden McNabb holding call. The Golden Knights also got a power play opportunity after Ryan Strome was called for hooking, but they did not convert.
Pregame: Golden Knights look to continue Pacific dominance against Ducks
The Vegas Golden Knights are eyeing their 11th Pacific Division victory of the season. They will host the Anaheim Ducks tonight at 7 p.m.
The Golden Knights are 10-2-1 against divisional rivals halfway through the season and recently won back-to-back games against Vancouver, 3-1, and Seattle, 6-2. The constant success has allowed Vegas to build a three-to-four-point cushion between first and second place in the division.
Vegas is also pushing for the top spot in the league, trailing the Winnipeg Jets by two points.
Mark Stone is coming off his first multipoint game since October, recording a goal and two assists against Seattle on Saturday. Jack Eichel upped his assist total to 35, which is tied for second in the league. He also jumped to 44 points, which is tied for 10th in the league.
The Ducks have lost six of their last nine games but are coming off a 5-4 shootout win over the Utah Hockey Club. Anaheim ranks seventh in the Pacific Division, just two points ahead of last-place San Jose. Vegas will face the Sharks on the road on Friday.
Players to watch
Golden Knights: Jack Eichel (center) 33 games played, 9 goals, 35 assists, 44 points; Mark Stone (forward) 19 games played, 7 goals, 21 assists, 28 points; Alex Pietrangelo (defense) 30 games played, 3 goals, 13 assists, 16 points.
Anaheim: Troy Terry (forward) 32 games played, 9 goals, 16 assists, 25 points; Frank Vatrano (forward) 31 games played, 9 goals, 8 assists, 17 points; Ryan Strome (center) 32 games played, 5 goals, 11 assisted, 16 points.
Nonactive players
Golden Knights: Nicolas Roy (upper body), Ivan Barbashev (upper body).
Anaheim: Trevor Zegras (knee), Leo Carlsson (undisclosed).
How to watch
TV: Scripps Sports (Cox Communications, channel 38), KnightTime+ (streaming)
Betting line
Golden Knights -345 Anaheim +275. Over/under: 6.5 (+100/-120)
Who’s in goal
Golden Knights: Adin Hill – 21 games played – 14-5-2 record, 2.69 goals against average, .901 save percentage, 2 shutouts
Anaheim: John Gibson – 11 games played, 5-5-1 record, 3.01 goals against average, .903 save percentage