LAS VEGAS — The Golden Knights won their sixth in seven games when they defeated the Vancouver Canucks, 3-1, on Thursday night.
Alex Pietrangelo, William Karlsson and Brett Howden scored for Vegas, while goalie Adin Hill stopped 19 shots to go 14-5-2.
Vegas, with 45 points, extended its lead in the Pacific Division to three ahead of second-place Los Angeles.
The Golden Knights are now two points behind NHL-leading Winnipeg, who are tied with New Jersey for the second-most points in the league.
Here are three takeaways from Thursday’s win:
KILLERS – Vancouver came to Vegas with a five-game road lead but finished 0 for 2 with the man advantage against the Golden Knights. Vegas has allowed just one power play goal in its last seven games, and two in its last 11. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights are 18 of 20 with their PK.
“Obviously, they’ve gone through a lot of their games and the look they like to have,” Howden said. “Ultimately, I thought we did a good job of staying with them and limiting ourselves.”
THE SAVE – Not long after the Canucks took a 1-0 lead in the first half, Hill made a brilliant save that kept the score intact while checking Vancouver’s momentum at the door.
After fighting for the puck behind the net, to Hill’s right, Canucks wing Conor Garland got the puck between Dakota Joshua, who left it to Pius Suter at the door. But Suter’s shot was not denied as Hill moved back to his left to deny the shot.
“You’re tracking the puck with your eyes, so when the pass goes out to the guy who skated, I know the guy’s behind, but I have to respect that,” Hill said. “I play my role and a little desire there.”
THE RULE OF THE THIRD PERIOD – The Golden Knights are still the league’s leading team in the third period with a plus-21 goal differential after defeating Vancouver 2-0 in the final frame on Thursday.
The Golden Knights have outscored opponents in the third period in 15 of 32 games, according to Stathead.com, by a score of 44-23.
