Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025 | 9:25 p.m.
The Vegas Golden Knights’ first line “didn’t have it” in Sunday’s game against the Florida Panthers, coach Bruce Cassidy said.
“I thought they struggled in the first period,” Cassidy said of the line anchored by the team’s star center, Jack Eichel. He added the difficulties could have been because Florida’s line led by Alexander Barkov is “very good.”
While Eichel found the back of the net in the third period on a breakaway, it was the Golden Knights’s third line that powered them to a 4-1 victory over the visiting Panthers.
The third-line trio thrived: Center Nicolas Roy had three assists, Keegan Kolesar had two assists, and Tanner Pearson had a goal.
“We need a couple of shifts to piggyback off just to get the momentum back, get us off our heels, and that’s what they’re (the third line) really good at,” Cassidy said. “They did a great job with that tonight.”
The third line recorded 8:22 minutes of ice time, the second-most behind the second line. They worked off of what Florida gave them, which led to the game-winning goal in the second period.
“We tried to put pucks deep and make them make mistakes,” Roy said. “We wanted to throw a couple of body checks and keep it simple.”
Puck possession has been the root of the third line’s success for years. Cassidy said this group has been executing like this since the 2023 Stanley Cup championship run.
Kolesar, who’s been a part of the bottom two lines for four seasons, is having a career year as well. He is now three points shy of his single-season career high of 24.
“Good for them,” Cassidy said on the third line’s effort. “They played a good offensive game and played the way they needed to play. They’re not necessarily a line rush group; It’s puck possession.”
Outside of the third line, Brayden McNabb opened the scoring in the first period off a slapshot from the point. Tomas Hertl scored an empty net goal, extending his point streak to 13 in nine games.
In net, Adin Hill snapped a three-game losing streak, making 32 saves on 33 shots.
Sunday’s game kicks off a three-game homestand, hosting the Dallas Stars (Tuesday) and Columbus Blue Jackets (Thursday).
The Golden Knights then head on the road for four games before a two-week break for the 4 Nations Face-Off, the international tournament pitting NHL players from Finland, Sweden, Canada and the United States.
Nearing the end of what has felt like an endless January, going 6-6-1, this could be the momentum the Golden Knights need going into the break.
“How about we string some solid hockey together,” Cassidy said on the Golden Knights’ games before the 4 Nations break. “If it results and wins, obviously, that’s what we want.”